"You look, bouncy."

"Bouncy?"

"Bouncy."

"Engines don't bounce Vincent," the Flying Scotsman argued. "Especially not me."

"Well that's too bad cause you're very bouncy today," Vincent argued and the Scotsman pouted at him.

"If you're going to pout then you're just being childish," Vincent scolded and the Scotsman only grinned at him.

"I am incredibly childish," he sounded proud of himself and Vincent rolled his eyes.

It was good though, the Flying Scotsman's mood improved dramatically and despite still being ill and unable to run as well as he could, he was chipper and in a bright mood almost everyday.

It was the happiest Vincent or Oscar had ever seen him and they both agreed that Cain being gone had definitely improved the Scotsman's condition dramatically. Even Green Arrow's little visit hadn't damped his spirits.

"In all seriousness, are you feeling alright for this trip?" Vincent asked as he stood on his running board.

"I am…" the Flying Scotsman was hesitant. "Anxious."

Vincent could tell that although he was feeling the best he had in a long time, he was worried about failing on the journey.

"Do you want me to talk to Ms Olivia? We can postpone this trip," he said and the Flying Scotsman looked disheartened.

"People have come from far and wide to see me after my disappearance, I don't want to disappoint them, my return has been postponed enough times already" the Flying Scotsman said, looking away from his driver.

"Well, we can have someone double head with you, as an insurance," Oscar suggested. "There are a lot of engines here today that would jump at the chance to do so."

The Flying Scotsman perked up at this.

"Yes, but only if it's my choice," he said. "I won't double head with just anyone."


"Me sir?" Gordon asked the Fat Controller, shocked. "But I've never double headed with my brother before and he's known to be a trickster."

Gordon pouted at the thought of Bittern's stories about how his brother would trick fellow engines that would pull trains with him. They more than often weren't pleasant and it knocked said engines down a peg or two.

James first hand account of it had scared the red engine into behaving himself for a week.

His brother could be very mean, especially to haughty and arrogant engines.

"The Flying Scotsman asked you to double head with him because he is afraid of failing on the journey and letting down the enthusiasts," Ms Olivia told him. "And he has said that he trusts no other engine with his health or passengers more than his brother."

Gordon was touched.

He had never heard his brother be so open before. Maybe he really was changing for the better.

"It'll be a big event, the two last Doncaster brothers together pulling a train," Sir Topham said with a warm smile. "A surprise that everyone will enjoy."

"Yes sir, I'll do it!" He grinned happily.

Despite his reservations, he did want to pull a train with his brother. In almost 100 years of them being built, the both of them had never pulled a train together.

The two of them together. It seemed right somehow.

"Right then, you will be behind Scotsman if that's alright," Olivia said, her expression very pleased.

Gordon was a bit annoyed but it was his brother's return and not his. He wanted to be happy, not make this day about himself.

"Of course Ma'am, it is my brother's day, he should be front and centre," Gordon said to the surprise of the Fat Controller who had expected him to protest.

Sir Topham's confused expression quickly turned to one of pride.

"You'll still be the centre of attention Gordon, considering all the other famous engines here today, Scotsman picked you to be his escort," Sir Topham assured him and Gordon could only smile at that.


When Gordon arrived to back down on to the train he was shocked at the amount of people crammed onto the station platform.

He'd never seen so many people lining the stations in anticipation. He'd been to railway events before but this was on another level.

He knew his brother was famous but this… he'd never expected this. It was almost overwhelming.

Cameras flashed as they captured him and people cheered and the crowd bustled. A lot of them were excited to see him much to his surprise.

"Look at that Gordon," his driver grinned, "They're excited to meet you. An original Doncaster."

Gordon didn't say anything, he just grinned at the photographers as he was coupled up to the coach.

He saw the other famous engines, lined up around the castle, engines like Pendennis Castle, Braunton, Bittern and Tornado all watching from a distance.

Tornado was beaming proudly at him and he saw Braunton and Bittern teasing each other.

It felt strange. This was something he'd never expected as Gresley's A1 Prototype. His fate was supposed to be locked away in a shed, or turned into scrap for his later models while his successors manned the railways, icons of might and strength.

Yet here he was, the only one of two remaining and currently the strongest of the original Express Engines, with his brother in desperate need of a rebuild.

He felt like crying and he didn't understand why.

A loud roar of the crowd went up in the air and suddenly distracted his thoughts as people began excitedly chattering.

Gordon knew before he even heard his brothers whistle sound what had riled them up.

The crowd began to swoon as the Flying Scotsman slowly rolled into view, the engine looking extremely polished and sharp.

Cameras began to flash as the Flying Scotsman passed by them to back down on to the train. He grinned and winked at them, greeting them with his charming bravado.

Gordon rolled his eyes but did so playfully.

His brother deserved this after everything he'd been through.

Gordon was surprised to see Vincent and Oscar in the cab however, with no sign of Olivia.

"Ms Olivia isn't your engineer today?" Gordon asked as the Scotsman was coupled up to him.

"No, no, she has sworn to only do so after she gets me my rebuild," he explained. "She said it gives her more agency to get me my rebuild."

"Ah I see," Gordon understood. "How are you feeling?"

"A bit creaky but the best I have in many years," the Flying Scotsman answered. "Thank-you for agreeing to do this with me Gordon. I was afraid you would decline."

Gordon just gave a playful huff of steam.

"I'm just glad that the famous Flying Scotsman chose me," he said teasingly and the Scotsman gave a snort of laughter.

"Yes well, Tornado's a lovely girl but she's not a Doncaster now is she?"

"Bittern is a Doncaster," Gordon pointed out.

"Yes, I love the guy, he's my best friend but he can be a bit… much sometimes," The Scotsman bit out carefully. "And besides, he won't look out for me like my big brother will."

Gordon was touched.

"Is that so, little brother?"

The Flying Scotsman didn't reply as his attention was shifted to the Earl making a speech but Gordon didn't need him too.

He could feel the Flying Scotsman smiling at him with a wide grin.

"By the way, you look wonderfully bouncy today little brother," Gordon teased and the Scotsman's shriek startled some nearby bystanders.

"I am NOT bouncy!"