On the island of Sodor, December was fresh in the air with new-falling snow and Christmas fast-approaching. But for some, this would not be such an ordinary December. Thomas was off in Australia to meet Shane and others who worked on the Australian Railway, and Emily was left to cope through the holiday without Thomas. The other engines were determined to help her, even if she couldn't be as happy as she would be with Thomas around. But for another couple, there would be a slightly different approach.

Luke had been working very hard at the Blue Mountain Quarry all day, with all the other Skarloey Engines. Even though the quarry was much less busy during the winter months, it was still rather difficult for Luke to find time to visit Ulfstead Castle, and Millie as they were quite far apart. It had been such a long time since he had seen her. He understood how their work kept them apart for long periods of time, but every now and then, all he could do was daydream about her all day, and then dream of her all night. He could recall the last time they had seen each other was so scarce, he had lost track of how much time had passed.

But then, as Luke returned to his shed that evening, just before sunset, the Thin Controller was there to see him.

"Well done, Luke," he said. "You've worked very hard and done so much with the other engines."

"Oh. Well, thank you, sir," said Luke.

"In fact, you've done so much work, I don't think you'll be busy again until tomorrow at noon. Which...makes me think...as a reward for your efforts, would you care to go and see your dear Millie for the night?"

Luke's heart froze and his eyes turned to the Thin Controller. He almost didn't hear what he had said.

"You're pulling my buffer, sir! You can't be serious! I heard incorrectly!" he blurted very fast.

"No. I'm not," the Thin Controller smiled. "Go on, if you wish. Have a loving night with Millie. She'll be overjoyed to see you after so long!"

Luke looked down the line...then whistled as loud as he could. "Oh...oh, THANK YOU, Mr. Percival!" he wailed as he tore down the line, cheering and whistling with bursting joy. He was at long last going to see Millie again. He could not wait to see how happy she'd be...

At Ulfstead Castle, Stephen and Glynn were asleep in their sheds, safe within the walls of the castle...but Millie was a fair distance outside the castle. She was by the platform, staring up into the winter sky, watching as a few clouds drifted among the stars, forming an inky appearance in the sky. It was intriguing, beautiful and mystical all at once...but for Millie, she couldn't feel any interest, beauty or mystical admiration. Her mind was still focused ever-so often on Luke, and when she'd see him again. By now, she knew their visits were few and far between, but this was the longest yet. The last time she recalled seeing him was after Duncan teased over having 'luck of the Irish,' that had happened the spring before this year! And just this past spring, she remembered seeing him in her sleep, and whispering his name, before he whispered her's back. But they had not interacted face to face...for nearly two whole years! Now that she thought about it, she suddenly had a fear that it would probably be even longer now. Not even the memory of the blue moon could lift her spirits now...

But then...almost to her utmost disbelief...she heard that one and only whistle, telling her who was approaching the castle. She looked and could see the light of a headlamp showing its way toward the castle gates. The big beam of light shone around the bend...the engine came closer and closer...and there he was. Luke. Millie's little tree, back with his lovely bluebell. Millie thought for sure that Luke wasn't even there, and that this was some very vivid dream.

"Luke..." Millie whispered, barely audible with solid joy. "Is...is that...?"

"Millie..." Luke whispered back, just as nearly inaudible with likewise joy. "My lovely bluebell...are...are you really here, with me?"

Millie huffed slowly toward him just to be sure she wasn't lost in a dream. She looked down to her buffers as they softly touched Luke's. When she felt his buffers, her heart skipped a beat. She looked up to his smile and leaned in closer...she puckered her lips...and then, as tears of overflowing joy leaked out through her closed eyes, she kissed him right on his cheek, holding her lips there as long as she could. Luke's eyes welled up with tears as he felt her warm, light lips softly holding to his cheek, kissing him for as long as she could until she had to let go and stare right at him, her eyes glimmering with tears.

"You ARE Luke! YOU are my little tree!" she sobbed.

"And you are Millie!" Luke shuddered. "YOU are my lovely bluebell!"

Millie was shaking a great deal from her overpowering happiness, tears still flowing from her cheeks as she pressed her face to Luke's and sobbed immensely, saying his name over and over again and feeling his cheeks touching right with hers.

Luke nearly cried too, feeling her warm skin again. It was more than he could ever hope for now...but he also knew what this truly meant. After nearly two years of being so distant...it was high time for their long overdue passion to be exchanged. Now that they were back together again, he felt ready to raise their passion a little more...as did Millie. She wanted this to be exceptional.

"Millie...Millie..." Luke whispered. "My lovely bluebell...I love you..."

"Oh...Oh, Luke!" Millie whispered shakily. "My little tree...I love you...SO much!"

Then, she felt it. Luke began kissing her perfect, small cheeks again. Millie felt his lips on her face, and nearly sobbed again with pure joy. To feel his lips gently kissing her again after all this time made her feel unlike she ever did before ever since they first came together.

"L-Luke...oh...Luke! It's been too, too long!" she whispered.

"I know, Millie," Luke answered. "Let's make this last...and let's make it beautiful beyond measure."

And Luke leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. When he felt her warm, sensual lips again, his boiler bubbled furiously, as did Millie's. She let off a little swirl of steam and moaned dearly into their kiss. Once again, their world was gleaming perfect, just for the two of them and nothing more.

After five minutes, Luke let go of her lips and stayed still, allowing Millie to do what she pleased. She smiled dearly at him and began kissing his cheeks very steadily, not going too fast or too slow, taking exactly as long or short as she wanted. All the while, her tears kept trailing down her face and touching warmly to Luke's cheeks as she covered them with so many gentle, warm and sensual kisses, making them both cry quietly together.

Then Millie remembered the last time they made great love when it was proven that no engine is an island.

"Luke...please...may...may I?" she asked gently.

Luke knew what she was thinking and smiled. "Oui, Millie. Please do..."

Millie smiled deeply and puckered her lips again. They started kissing again...until Luke felt it. Millie ever-so carefully pressed her tongue to his lips, asking silently for passage. Luke remembered how she did this very gently when she came to help him after he caused an accident with the bridge. Just like before, Luke peacefully melted into her kiss. After so much time, he thought it would do them both well to raise their passion slowly, but surely.

He opened his mouth and let Millie's tongue in. Millie felt this and moaned deeply. As their tongues touched together and began to dance together within their kiss, it tickled so perfectly and felt so warm and safe. Luke and Millie felt as though they were drifting off the tracks into the air. Neither of them thought that coming back together after so long could be so happy and passionate. But it only got better and better. When their lips finally let go of each other, allowing them to regain their breath, Millie decided to raise the passion and see what Luke thought.

"Luke...I...I want...to..." As she trailed off, she closed her eyes and slowly opened her mouth. Luke saw her tongue beginning to reach out toward his cheek. His heart jumped, but he didn't do anything to stop her.

And so, very softly and delicately, Millie began giving Luke's cheek a few little licks, making sure she didn't do too much too suddenly. Luke let off steam and groaned happily at this new feeling. Millie's tongue was very warm and gentle, just like her lips and as he felt her lick his cheek so gently, he completely forgot about all the time they had spent away from each other.

Millie's heart couldn't be soaring higher than it was now as she could feel Luke's joy intertwining with her's. After almost ten minutes, she drew her tongue back and just stared at his absolutely elated face, smiling perfectly.

"I love you, Luke...beyond anything in my entire life," Millie whispered.

"I love you too, Millie...just the same," Luke whispered back. "That...that was so beautiful!"

"You...you didn't mind?" she asked.

"No, my love. We've been away for so long...I think it's more than worth it to raise our passion...therefore...may...may I, Millie?"

Millie gasped excitedly. "Oh...oh, Luke..." she whispered. "I'd love that! Please let me feel your tounge...my perfect engine."

So Luke very carefully made his approach. He reached his tongue out, and just touched it to Millie's cheek. A warm, sweet sensation met his tongue, which made him feel very, very peaceful. And when he heard Millie whimper with such a smile on her face, it was made even better. He very softly gave her cheek a few little licks, making sure he didn't surprise her, just like she made sure. Millie began gasping quietly, feeling his tongue tickle her face so lightly. He wasn't being dominant or overpowering like Thomas and Emily would be together. He was a gentle soul, even with passionate techniques of love, and this only made Millie love him even more.

The two little engines ended up spending three long hours, kissing to their cheeks and lips, letting their tongues feel each other in each and every French kiss they shared, and very delicately and gently exchanged loving licks to each other. All the while, Luke and Millie could not stop crying happily over this reunion after nearly two years. Their hearts were beating so strongly, it nearly hurt, but this pain wasn't out of anguish, it was out of love. Love that they had long since had to put aside, until now, it could all pay off with such passion.

At long last, Luke and Millie's lips and tongues had done all they could, and they were both impossibly happy. Both engines yawned as sleep began to tug at them.

"Merci, Millie," Luke whispered greatly. "I've never felt so happy before..."

"Me neither, Luke," Millie yawned. "It feels so...so unusual to do this with you again...but I mean that in the best ways there can be."

"And it's not quite over, Millie," said Luke. "I don't need to be back at the quarry until noon tomorrow...I'm staying with you for tonight."

Millie gasped again and almost cried once more. "Oh...Luke! Please...come with me! Sleep with me..."

And so, for the first time in a very, very long time, Luke and Millie went to her shed, warm and solitary in each other's hold, far away from anyone else. They had not spent a night together ever since that incident at the quarry when she came to calm him. But under tonight's circumstances, this was even better for both of them. Luke wasn't afraid or scarred by anything this time, and Millie would now sleep, remembering the overdue, and stronger passion they had shared now. When they bade goodnight to each other, they both spoke French all the way, they were both so happy.

"Bonne nuit, Millie. Je t'aime," whispered Luke.

"Bonne nuit, Luke. Je t'aime aussi," Millie whispered back.

And so, Luke and Millie kissed once more and fell asleep together, ever-pressing their faces together, never letting each other go for an instant, until every last moment they had together was spent in unity, and long overdue passion. It never mattered how far apart they were, or how much time they'd be separate. They loved each other to the soul, and that was more important than any distance or time in the matter. This was, beyond all doubt, their best meet-up yet.

Once again it's been far too long since we've given Luke and Millie attention, as I've said before, Luke and Millie are probably the hardest couple to come up with stories for, but when we do come up with stories for them, they're usually very sweet. Next time we're doing another flashback story, this time it's "Excellent Emily" from Series 12, which we never did for "Thomas and Emily's Relationship", so consider it a lost chapter of that story. And before anyone even thinks of asking, yes I have seen "Thomas and the Royal Engine" and "Marvelous Machinery". Anyway, until next time tell us what you thought of this story and stay safe.