It was the next day. "Lady, we're going to Blue Mountain to cover for Paxton, and then we're heading to Vicarstown for some switching," Burnett said.

"Sounds good to me."

As Lady puffed away, Billy and Dennis watched. "Well, you found out why Nick's so grumpy," Dennis said to the saddletank. "Now what are you going to do?"

"Continue being really useful, for one," Billy replied. "And maybe try to help him feel better. He needs support, he didn't get enough when he should've."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Well, it's finally a relief to see someone who's smaller than me," Lady said as she entered the quarry.

"I suppose it is," Skarloey replied, chuckling good-naturedly. "I take it you have some experience?"

"From my time in the tunnel, yes. Say, did you know Bertram?"

"A little. He was Duke's brother." His tone had grown serious.

"How'd he die?"

"'Die' isn't really the right word for it," the crimson engine explained. "A long time ago during a terrific storm, a dam on Thomas' branchline collapsed. Toby barely escaped with his life. It reached the quarry, too, and the tunnel was completely flooded. When someone came to look inside it, Bertram had disappeared, most likely washed away by the water. His remains have never been found, so he's been presumed dead."

"No one could survive something like that," Sir Handel mentioned as he passed.

"Quite right," Skarloey agreed. "Anyway, you'll be pushing trucks through the tunnels. Mind Luke, he's a bit shy."

"I understand the feeling," Lady replied. "I don't like lots of people staring at me either." And off to work she went.

"Hope she's not bossy like Duck," Sir Handel muttered.

"Don't worry, from what I understand the Americans only have one way of doing things," Freddie said as he arrived to take Sir Handel's trucks. "It only works about three percent of the time, sure, but they manage to make a living off it."

Thomas was busy shunting in Knapford Yard. "Thomas, what's the matter?" Philip asked.

"Oh, nothing, just...this inspection's got me feeling blue."

"But you ARE blue."

Thomas had to smile at that. "You're a good engine, Philip. Never let anyone tell you otherwise."

"That's not gonna stop us, though," said a boxcar. Thomas shoved him out of the way and laughed sheepishly. As Philip left, Rosie and Emily approached him.

"Hey guys!" Thomas said. "How are Pip and Emma adjusting?"

"Slowly, but surely," Rosie replied.

"Yeah, they're good kids," Emily laughed. As soon as she was sure no one else was listening, she whispered "So what does she think?"

"She thinks there's a very good chance they are," Thomas whispered back. "As soon as the inspection ends tonight, we've got to make sure that all of them have left. If even one of them's still behind snooping around, then we're all in big trouble."

"On it!" Rosie replied.

Some time later, Lady was startled by a loud horn. "Oh my gosh, engines Beetle's size!" Lucy gushed as she entered the quarry. Ivo Hugh was intimidated by her and quickly scampered away.

"Hello there, uh..." Rusty began.

"Lucy of Peel Godred! I came here to get a little space, clear my cab and all that, get some slate to retile some roofs." She spotted Lady. "Oh! Hi there!"

"...I don't think I know you," Lady remarked.

"You do too! Don't you remember? 2000?"

It clicked. "You were there competing for the Golden as well?"

"Mm-hm! Competing for Sodor so I could bring attention to how wrong it is to kill a Lifer just for being old."

Lady had another thought. "So, uh, Lucy, why are you and Henry...y'know," she mumbled.

"Well, we aren't technically a couple, but we both really like each other romantically and we both know it. When I first met him, there was just...something about him that drew me to him." Lucy sighed and continued.

"Lifers don't think the same way humans do by a longshot. No one knows why that is per se, but maybe we were first designed by something that thought the way we do, I dunno. Anyway, normal human rules of romance meant that I could never have him. Because when we met I was physically thirteen, and he was physically sixty.

"Then I started to realize that that's just how old our bodies were. Our minds were only about a year apart mentally: me fifteen, him sixteen and a little bit. And personality-wise? We both like nature, even though his has trees and deer and mine has rocks and lizards. We both share a lot of political opinions. It was just...such a relief that I wasn't the only person who thought the way I did.

"The aluminum works closed in 1980, so we all got shut up in our sheds. A year after, Henry had his terrible crash and became so afraid of everything. Only in 2018 did another vein of aluminum get discovered so we could resume operation. But...even despite that, Henry still loved me.

"THAT, Lady, is the definition of true love. You love someone so much, that even if you don't see them for a while, finding each other again makes you the happiest machine alive. Why do you ask?"

Lady blushed. "It's...embarrassing."

"Don't worry! Shame is for stupid people who can't see the good in the world."

"Well, alright then." She took a deep breath. "Nick...I think I like him. Like I liked Cressida. I...just want to pepper his face with kisses even though my bufferbeam won't permit that."

"EEEEEEEEEEE!" Lucy squealed, bouncing giddily.

"Hey, easy there girl!" Lucy's driver said, holding fast to her seat. "You're going to make me trainsick!"

"Oh, sorry Xiaoqing." The 86 calmed down. "Lady, I support you. When the time is right, tell him how you feel."

Lady sighed, letting off steam. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

One of them's figured it out now. How long until the other one does? What other narrow-gauge engines will I introduce? And will we get another song?

All this and more in the next chapter – The 2022 Great Railway Show!