Part 2: When Edward Met Molly

A.N. Just thought I'd say that these two stories are not connected.

One night, Edward, Henry, and James were at the coaling plant. The three of them were waiting for a new engine by the name of Molly to bring them some freight cars to make some coal deliveries. It was late, and James was starting to get impatient.

"Ugh, where are those cars?!" he snapped. "They should've been here ages ago!"

"Cool it, James." said Henry. "I'm sure they'll be here soon."

"Forget the cars." said Edward. "I wanna meet that new engine. Ever since Thomas told me about her special special, I've been waiting to see it and her."

Just then, they heard a whistle, and Thomas pulled into the plant behind Molly.

"Well, it's about time." James said to himself, although on the outside, he was very pleased to see the cars.

But Edward seemed more interested in Molly than in the cars.

"Golly, that is one swell engine." the Number Two engine said to himself. "That bright yellow paint job is absolutely gorgeous."

Henry then moved forward.

"We need even more freight cars." he chuffed.

"I'll get them." Molly replied.

"And I'll help!" added Thomas.

Soon, Thomas and Molly were off.

"Man, look at her go." said Edward. "And look at the way the lights reflect off her yellow paint."

Henry and James couldn't help but hear.

"What's he on about?" Henry whispered.

But James was able to put two and two together.

"Hey, Ed, do you like Molly?" he asked smugly.

Edward blushed with embarrassment.

"Do you mean "like her, like her" or do you mean "Like-like her?" he asked.

"Why, do you like-like her?" James prodded.

"I didn't say that!" Edward denied.

"Why don't you like her?" James went on. "She looks nice!"

Edward quickly grew annoyed.

"I'm sorry, I'm not talking to you anymore tonight." he decided.

"So, does that mean you like her?" James finally asked.

Edward just closed his eyes and let out a sigh.

"James, just stop." Henry groaned with a roll of his eyes.

"Fine." James conceded. "But you can't deny it, you know."

"Lord, save me." Edward pleaded under his breath.

Although Edward's short prayer was barely audible, it was still answered in the form of Thomas and Molly arriving with the extra cars.

"Here you are, gentlemen." said Molly.

"Why, thank you." Edward smiled.

Soon, Edward, James, and Henry were coupled up to their trains and were off making their deliveries once the cars had been filled with coal. As the trio was pulling out, Edward glanced at Molly.

"I should get to know Molly." he said. "Although I'm not particularly fond of James' comments just then, he's not wrong about her looking nice. Plus, she's a 4-4-0 engine like I am, so that's already something we have in common."

"Not to mention that your colors go really well together since you're blue and she's yellow." his driver put in.

"You're right, Charlie." agreed Edward.

"Perhaps you could try and have a conversation with her after we finish the delivery." suggested the fireman.

"Good idea, Sidney." the two men's engine agreed. "I'll try and do it tomorrow, because I assume that it'll be very late by the time we're finished."

Soon, all the coal deliveries were completed, and Edward, Henry, and James set off for home. The next morning, Edwad just so happened to have the day off, so he decided to spend the day getting to know Molly. Of course, he didn't know where Molly was staying, so he decided to ask Sir Topham Hatt about it. He went over to Knapford Station and saw Sir Topham Hatt coming out of the station bakery with a box of scones.

"Sir?" Edward called.

Sir Topham Hatt was caught completely off guard, so much so that he almost dropped his scones.

"Goodness gracious!" he cried out.

"Sorry, sir." Edward apologized.

"Don't worry about it, Edward." said Sir Topham Hatt. "No harm done. So, what do you need?"

"Where's Molly staying?" Edward asked. "I just wanna talk with her."

"She's staying at Knapford Sheds." Sir Topham Hatt replied.

"Thank you, sir." Edward nodded.

"Anytime." winked Sir Topham Hatt.

With that, Edward pulled out of the station and went to Knapford Sheds, where sure enough, Molly was waiting to get up to steam. Edward reversed into the shed and next to her.

"Hi there." he greeted. "Molly, is it?"

"Yes." replied Molly. "And you are?"

"Edward" said Edward. "I thought I'd take the time to get to know you a little. I mean, if you have time to."

"I do." said Molly. "I'm just waiting for Sir Topham Hatt to come and tell me my job for the day."

"Oh, okay." said Edward. "So, how do you like Sodor so far?"

"The scenery is absolutely beatiful." Molly grinned. "I mean, I've only been here since yesterday."

"Well, there's so much for you to see." said Edward. "If you want, I can show you around the place when you're finished with your work."

But little did Edward know that his chance would come much sooner. It was then that Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

"Alright Molly, here's what I'd like you to do for today." said Sir Topham Hatt. "Some rail enthusiasts from the Mainland are coming to Sodor for a photo tour. I'd like you to collect them and take them around the Island."

"Yes, sir!" Molly puffed proudly.

Edward saw this as the perfect opportunity.

"Sir, would it be alright if I went along with Molly?" he asked. "I want to show her the sights of Sodor, and since I have today off, I thought maybe this would be a good way to spend it."

Sir Topham Hatt couldn't help but agree.

"Very well, Edward." he nodded. "You have my permission to go along with Molly."

"Thank you, sir." Edward grinned.

Edward then looked at Molly.

"I can get your coaches ready if you want." he offered.

"Oh, thank you." Molly said. "I mean, I have no trouble getting my own coaches, but if you want to do it, by all means."

"Okie-dokie." Edward said as he set off to get the coaches.

As she watched Edward leave, Molly, although she was happy at how nice Edward was being to her, was rather pensive.

"Why did he ask to get my coaches?" Molly wondered. "I'm sure he's just being a gentleman, but I can't help but feel that that's just the tip of the iceberg."

Sir Topham Hatt was equally as baffled.

"Somehow, I'm sensing something more than just treating a new engine with kindness and generosity." he said to himself. "But I don't think that's any of my business."

Soon, Edward had collected Molly's coaches and the two engines were double-heading the passenger train, which in turn was soon filled with happy railfans, and as they went down the line, Edward showed Molly the many wonderous sights the Island had to offer, from Henry's Forest to Bluff's Cove. It should go without saying that Molly enjoyed every bit of the tour, as did their passengers, and later that evening, Sir Topham Hatt was speaking to the two engines. He was very pleased.

"Well done to both of you." he was saying. "Many compliments were given."

Edward and Molly felt very proud of themselves indeed, and when night fell, Molly invited Edward to spend the night at Knapford Sheds, which he happily accepted.

"Thanks again for showing me around Sodor, Edward." Molly thanked. "Everything was beautiful."

"Thanks." said Edward. "But not as beautiful as you."

Edward suddenly realized what he just said.

"I'm sorry, did I say that loud?" he asked.

Molly laughed.

"You're really witty, Edward." she giggled. "I like you."

Edward's face went as red as James.

"I like you too, Molly." he smiled.

And as the two engines fell asleep that night, I can assure you that Edward the Blue Engine, the Number Two engine on the North Western Railway of Sodor, felt very happy to have found someone to call his own.

The End