Another year had passed on the island of Sodor. All the engines were as busy as ever. Especially Meredith. She did everything she could to keep herself distracted as she tried to live without Gordon by her side. The last time they talked was when they went to pick up stone from the quarry and Gordon told her very sternly she needed to grow up. In the time since then her escapades with other engines ceased, she did her best to straighten herself out and prove to Gordon that she was ready and committed for a relationship with him. She refused any attention from Flying Scotsman but even his interest began to wane and she knew it was because of Brian. Meredith knew her older brother and Scotsman were sneaking around together. She didn't pretend to know why. Brian is such a sensible engine she simply couldn't understand why he would even entertain Flying Scotsman. But she never pressed him for clarity. She preferred to avoid the subject all-together. So long as the egotistical bastard left her alone, she didn't care who he left her alone for.

Meredith puffed along the track from Harwick. The salty sea air felt refreshing against her hot face. Summers on Sodor could be so brutal and that day was a particularly scorching one. She came across Oliver who gave her a friendly smile. "Afternoon, Meredith! Workin' hard are we?"

"You know me. Always doing the most." Meredith was short of breath but she forced a smile. "Where's Toad?"

"Oh he's at the Steamworks. He needed new brake pads. It's just me today." Oliver felt sad for a moment, but he quickly perked up as Meredith passed with her coaches. "I'll be seeing you later?"

"Always." Meredith gave a quick farewell blow on her whistle and continued on towards the Arlesburgh junction with her passengers.

The past month saw the addition of a new engine. A sweet and gentle Pacific called Emerson. He was brought over from the mainland after his owner could no longer afford his upkeep. He was the same Gresley design as Flying Scotsman and Gordon, but surprisingly there was no relation. He was built around the same time as Meredith by a rather wealthy individual who wanted to replicate the iconic Doncaster build, but after several financial disasters the gentleman could no longer keep up with Emerson's needs and was forced to let him go. He arrived on the island on a flatbed with his rivets barely holding him together. He was immediately sent to the Steamworks for a complete overhaul. Now he runs perfectly and is a very useful engine.

Emerson was sitting at the Arlesburgh junction with a heavy goods train. He stopped to have a chat with the miniature engines Rex, Mike, and Bert before continuing on to Brendam. Emerson had only been working for a couple weeks and found the mini engines fascinating. He stopped to talk with them any chance he could. "You don't seem to have as many passengers today, Rex. I assume it's the heat."

"You'd assume correct." Rex sighed. His face was shiny with condensation. "I'd be in my shed if I had any say in it."

"Well, you don't." Mike grumbled from atop the ballast ramp. "Sweltering heat or not, our work never stops."

"I wish it did." Rex murmured as a handful of passengers boarded his cars.

"Oh! It's Meredith! Hello, Mer!" Bert called excitedly as he squeaked in with his wool cars.

The little white tank engine came to a stop at the platform beside Emerson who gave her a warm smile. He was such a lovely engine it was refreshing considering all the Pacifics she knew were rather dickish. Even Gordon, but that didn't stop Meredith from loving him. "Is this how the coal feels in my firebox because if so I think I need to apologize to it." Meredith said with a sigh.

The mini engines all chuckled and Emerson snorted. "I didn't think it was possible for an engine to sweat this much." He said.

"You'd be amazed at what an engine can do." Meredith said with a wink. One thing she couldn't wrap her funnel around was the fact that this new engine looked quite a lot like Gordon, but there was no genuine relation. Same thin lips and deep-set eyes, but his nose isn't as sharp and his eyebrows are fuller, though not quite the level of Flying Scotsman's. The likeness was presumably because Emerson was based on Gordon's prototype design -with added smoke deflectors- and it's just how his face developed. His livery was unique, however; a stylish maroon shade with accents of gold and silver. Very distinguishable. A little detail that did not bode well with James at first.

Emerson noticed Meredith's far off gaze directed towards him and cleared his throat, snapping the little engine back to reality. "Yes?"

"You were zoned out." Emerson said with a gentle smile. "What could possibly have you so distracted?"

"The better question would be what doesn't have me distracted." Meredith laughed awkwardly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"You just remind me of someone is all." Meredith said quietly. She noticed the mini engines had turned their attention to her as well. "It's really nothing though." Her passengers had disembarked and the little engine started up once more. "I'll see you all later, okay?"

"Bye." The mini engines all said. They knew of Meredith's past relationship with Gordon and they knew that Emerson's appearance likely opened old wounds. Of course they wouldn't say anything to the new engine so as to not upset him. Instead they watched quietly as Meredith disappeared in the distance.

At Vicarstown station, Flying Scotsman was sitting quietly on his platform when Emerson pulled in with his goods train. Scotsman had not yet seen Sodor's newest engine and was taken by surprise. He looked a lot like Gordon. He looked at like… Flying Scotsman.

Emerson glanced to Flying Scotsman beside him and saw him staring. "May I help you?"

Scotsman narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

"Emerson." The new engine said. He didn't like how Scotsman was eyeing him. "And you must be Flying Scotsman."

"I am." Scotsman continued to look the new engine over. "Where were you built?"

"I was a private commission. My former owner lived just outside Brighton." Emerson said plainly. He had anticipated Scotsman's interest considering their similarities, but he was a little irked at the famous engine's crude tone.

"But you were built at Doncaster?" Scotsman was even more confused.

"Well… no." Emerson felt embarrassed. "My former owner was a big fan of the Gresley Pacific A3s. He was rather torn up when he heard the majority were- well… " Emerson cleared his throat to avoid saying the word. "He wanted one for himself but knew he wouldn't have been able to obtain you or your brother so he managed to dig up old blueprints and now here I am."

"So he built you then sold you? That makes little sense." Scotsman was intrigued. The engine was what others would call a 'one-off'. He was based around a specific class, but entirely unique.

Emerson shrugged. "Unfortunately, I wasn't put together well and the costs to rebuild me were too great." He didn't mind all the questions. He was rather used to it. When Emerson first arrived at Knapford after his much-needed overhaul he was bombarded by curiosity from the other engines. Of course he answered all their questions with as much poise as he could muster, but given that Emerson had never been around other engines until then, he was a bit terrified.

Flying Scotsman opened his mouth to speak but then stopped when he saw Rebecca roll in with another goods train. "Afternoon, gentlemen." She said with a giggle.

"Hello, Rebecca." Emerson smiled kindly and Scotsman merely nodded in acknowledgment of the bright engine.

"You two handling the heat okay? My second summer on Sodor and I've still not adjusted." Rebecca gabbed as her cars were uncoupled. "Oh but it's no big deal. Just a quick splash of water to the face and I'm right as rain again. Well, wish I could stay and chat but I'm running behind and I have to help Gordon with the express. Bye!"

The other two big engines watched Rebecca steam quickly away and Scotsman chuckled at Emerson who looked a little shaken at Rebecca's fast chattering. "Sometimes I wonder how that engine manages to take a breath with all her talking."

Emerson shook his boiler. "Is she always like that?" He'd never really spoken to Rebecca. It had always been a quick 'hello' in passing.

"Oh yeah," Scotsman sneered as he started up. "You'll get used to it… eventually. If you're lucky." Scotsman blew three departing whistles and thundered off back towards the mainland.

Gordon was in Knapford yard taking on water when Rebecca rolled in behind him. "Hi, Gordon!"

"Hello." Gordon said with a yawn. He had just woken up from a nap and was still feeling drowsy. "How can you still manage to be so chipper in this heat?"

"It's not that bad." Rebecca said. "Just happy to be alive."

Gordon groaned. Unfortunately, he didn't share Rebecca's sentiments. He was feeling unusually miserable that day. The combination of the heat and his own personal frustrations made for a very sour mood. The express engine couldn't stop thinking about Meredith. He was irritated at the fact that over a year had passed since their split and she still managed to get under his wheels. Gordon had noticed her improved attitude and behaviors, but was skeptical. He wasn't sure if it was all a show to reel him back in, or a genuine change of heart.

The sound of Meredith's laugh immediately drew Gordon's attention and he looked over to see her in the station with the new engine. Gordon's boiler bubbled angrily as he watched the two smile and carry on. "Bother that new engine." He huffed.

"I quite like Emerson." Rebecca said. "He's very kind."

"Yeah, sure." Gordon rolled his eyes and moved away from the water tower so Rebecca could fill her tender. He continued to watch the two as he moved onto his platform and he could hear their conversation. They hadn't yet noticed Gordon pulled in.

"I'm just not sure Sir Topham Hatt would go for that." Emerson said.

"It would make sense, though." Meredith pressed. "You're in a literal shack on a siding and I just can't handle Daisy's snoring anymore."

Emerson twisted his expression in thought. "I really don't know. It's a lot to ask for a whole new shed."

Gordon was hooked into the conversation at that point, but he kept a straight face as he continued to eavesdrop.

"Yeah, but don't you want something that'll actually keep the rain out? And provide adequate shade?" Meredith gave Emerson's footplate a playful bump. "And a little privacy would be nice too, hm?"

Gordon clenched his teeth, but managed to keep quiet. Emerson laughed. "That would certainly be a bonus."

"So ask him!"

"Why me?"

"You're new. He's a lot more pliable for his new engines." Meredith said with a wink.

Emerson sighed. "Fine, fine." He then looked over towards Sir Topham Hatt's office and finally took notice of a rather irate Gordon. "Oh, hello, Gordon. I didn't see you there."

"Clearly." Gordon growled.

"What's the matter?" Emerson raised his brow. He didn't understand Gordon's sudden anger towards him.

"Nothing." The express engine snapped as his coaches were coupled up then he cast a sideways glare to Meredith. "Funny how you go for the engine who looks like my brother. I thought you had changed, clearly I was wrong."

"What?" Meredith was stunned by that comment. "Gordon, what do you mean? I'm not-"

Gordon blew his whistle louder than he had in a long time, cutting Meredith off before he lurched forward and flew down the line with the express.

Meredith grunted in frustration. "You can't be serious…"

"What was that about?" Poor Emerson was completely lost. He unknowingly caught himself up in quite an ugly dispute.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about it. Look-" she gestured to the platform Gordon just left to Sir Topham Hatt who had appeared out of his office. "Go ahead and ask him about the shed. I'll catch up with you later." Meredith puffed her pistons and started back towards Tidmouth. Cursing to herself and praying she didn't just blow her second chance with Gordon.

Another chapter, another new engine. Emerson had been brewing long in my mind- even before I started writing this fic. My original intention was actually to find a way to make him Meredith and Gordon's "son", but I figured that was too much of a ridiculous stretch. (As if locomotive copulation isn't insane enough) So homie was cast aside for the time being. I decided to bring him in as sort of an innocent bystander to the absolute shit-show. I don't really have anything scandalous planned for him... for now. Lol.

Pretty Katydid; First I would like to address the fact that I literally look forward to your reviews. They're so insightful and you always manage to pickup on my little details (I was so excited when I saw you caught the Valentino reference). Plus, it makes me feel good to know that I'm not alone in the whole 'if I were an engine I'd totally fool around with so-and-so'. And if you're referring to the theory that Spencer was 'Silver Jubilee' before he was Spencer then yes, I totally buy into it. I can't really see a reason why it wouldn't have been Spencer. And the engine is 100% the type to talk himself up and then severely fall short when it comes time to... perform. Lmao. I'm kinda hem-hawing between either leaving Spencer a pest or making him another of Mer's 'curiosities'. I feel if I go through with the latter there would be no way in hell Gordon would take her back. (At least if he had any sense, which he clearly does.)

But Scotsman and Spencer are both 'DAWG' for sure. Actual trash that you can't help but love- and perhaps want a piece of. *wink wink* As far as the whole sexual preference thing goes, I don't image engines really give a damn as much as humans. Since their fun is just for... fun, there's really no "logical" reason to lean towards the opposite sex. Scotsman would just prefer the ladies because he's shallow and they tend to be more attractive.

To address the Brian/Flying Scotsman situation, I'm still playing out how I want it to end. I always favor an ugly ending because why not, but I'm still not completely sure. Your guess is as good as mine as to how that little sub-plot is going to turn out. I think I'm honing in on something, but I'll have to write more to see what feels... correct.

Anyhow. Thank you all for your continued love and support; Cherry Lau, racefangurl, I love seeing your reviews! Every single one of them bring a smile to my face and I hope you continue to enjoy.

Much love!

Bumble

P.S. Jesse and Walt's dynamic is God-tier and I think I can only dream of writing a pair of characters as solid as those two.