Springtime meant work time for the engine and human personnel of Brendam Docks. Ships queued up for hours as their cargo was loaded and unloaded as quickly as Cranky could manage. Edward shuffled around the various lines with Salty and Porter, they struggled to keep up with the constant influx of goods from the mainland and beyond. By noon, their faces glistened with sweat and sea spray, they were more than grateful for some time in the easy shade while their crews took an early lunch after the first wave of ships departed. A single cruise liner remained, but Gordon was tasked to pick up the passengers and their luggage; the smaller engines were not needed during that time.

"Aye, I'm lovin' this warmer weather but, I forget clear skies means full ships, and bounds of em!" Salty mused to Porter and Edward. Edward muffed a laugh, Porter nodded.

"Let's hope the afternoon freighters are less stacked, and less frequent."

Edward yawned and glanced over to the dock manager perched at his balcony, studying what appeared to be a heavy stack of papers. "I wouldn't hold my breath on that one, Porter."

The tank engine followed Edward's gaze to the manager's hands. When it clicked what the blue engine was referring to he sighed a little too dramatically and curled further beneath the awning beside Salty; before further bellyaching could occur an unexpected cargo ship bellowed, it rattled the sheet metal roofing and the engines' boilers. When they all peeked out from their shelter, they were shocked to find a massive maroon freighter, its length stretched beyond that of the humble docks' and at its highest mast flew a proud flag of red, white, and blue.

Salty rolled out first, he glanced to the dock manager who had already climbed down from his balcony.

"That's too big a ship to have anything for us," Edward pointed out. He then gestured to the stacks of shipment containers nearly the size of some houses. "No one here is big enough to pull cargo like that."

"We never receive shipments from America," Porter said. "They always go straight to Liverpool on the mainland, their railway has freighters who could handle that sort of load."

The dock manager approached the ship's captain dressed in all white, promptly taking the note from his hand. "What's it you've brought?"

"A locomotive, sir," the captain replied, he locked his hands behind his back and spoke steadily with a rich tone only found deep in the boroughs of New York. "We were supposed to deliver at Liverpool but their port's backed up and we're already delayed. We're set for Australia originally."

"Australia?" The dock manager huffed, handing back the order sheet after signing it. "You're quite a ways away from there."

"Yeah, well, someone paid us a pretty penny to get this rattler shipped back over here and I'm not one to turn down good money like that."

"Absolutely," the dock manager tucked his clipboard under his arm. "Well, if it's meant for the mainland we've got a railway line that runs to London it can take. I'll just have to check with the controller, see if he has a spare crew that could drive it."

The American captain shrugged then crossed his arms. "Alright."

Edward, Salty, and Porter exchanged a confused glance. They only caught bits and pieces of the conversation but understood there was an engine to be unloaded from the ship. They waited, bound by tense silence until the dock manager emerged from his office once more, though he didn't walk back down the balcony, instead he gave the American man an enthusiastic thumbs up which was all the captain needed. He whistled and the men still aboard his ship unlocked the cargo hold doors. The ship itself was too high for Cranky to reach, Big Mickey was tasked with unloading the mystery engine from the ship and once his hoist was securely around the locomotive he began to steadily lift it from the hold.

The dock was silent, as were the engines once her wheels touched the track. Big Mickey released his hoist and the little engine shook herself off, blinked, and yawned. Her eyes adjusted onto Salty, Porter, and Edward, she squealed. "Oh my gosh! Hi, guys!"

"Meredith?!" They all gasped in unison.

"Why were you on a ship?" Porter demanded.

"Why were you on an American ship?" Edward clarified. Salty was still silent and dumbfounded.

Meredith wiggled her wheels before trying to move forward. "I spent the last year over there on a lease— sort of."

"I bet that was a lot of fun! Did you get to see any cool places?"

Meredith's smile disappeared at Porter's question. She rocked awkwardly on the tracks. "Not particularly, I pretty much stayed in Cheyenne, Wyoming the entire time, their lines are too long between hoppers for me to do any real runs."

The three Brendam engines appeared disappointed but before more could be said another much larger specimen joined the gossip and his cool gaze was only on Meredith. "I believe you're at the wrong dock, miss."

"No, I don't think I am." She declared curtly, her eyes slicked to Gordon, the response from her undercarriage contradicted the anger in her expression. The time away had led her to forget how handsome Scotsman's older brother was. "Don't worry, I'm not staying, you don't need to suffer me for too long."

The blue A3 locked his jaw. "Then I suggest you get a move on."

"I will," Meredith huffed, then turned away to give an apologetic smile to Edward and the dockside engines. "We'll have to catch up some other time, sorry."

They all understood and muttered a quiet goodbye before she puttered off to refuel away from Gordon, and the dock manager wasn't able to flag her down soon enough to inform her of the crew meant to take her charge.

Once Meredith's tanks and coal bunker were well and full she continued on down the branch line from Brendam. She breathed in the fresh air as it rustled the new leaf surrounding the tracks. She wanted to stop and savor her unexpected stop on the little island, run across all corners and visit old friends, but as well she desired to rush home, straight into the embrace of her beloved. The thought of all they would do once alone send violent sparks throughout her body, she held true to her promise to practice abstinence the last few weeks before her return and her body ached for a ride. It was when she had nearly reached the mainline that she stopped in a show of sparks and steam. A horrible, treacherous idea managed to work its way into her brain, her breathing quickened as she worked through all the possible consequences from the deliciously naughty to outright fatal. It was a stupid idea. She shook herself, silently urged herself to dismiss the thought and go home, but as she turned onto the mainline and approached Gordon's hill it swung back in and she bit her lip. "Fuck…"

Meredith made it to Vicarstown by three, she took her pace easy and stopped to chat up many engines alone the way, Spencer included, though she asked the Silver Streak to not let Scotsman know of her return, she wished to surprise him that night.

"I don't know, Mer, I'm not the best at keeping secrets," Spencer didn't like the idea of having to lie to his friend. More or less he simply didn't wish to be the next beheading. He was too pretty for that.

The little tank engine rolled her eyes. "So, what? Do I have to buy your silence somehow? You want sex or something?"

Spencer furrowed his brow then his face went hot, he fumbled over his words and looked away to the next platform at Caitlin's tender. "Nonono, I don't need none of that I just— I just get nervous. I have a bad poker face."

"Then avoid Scot, stay on the island till nightfall."

"But I have to take the Duke and Duchess back to Boxford in an hour."

Meredith groaned, "You're so pathetic, Spencer. Just bite your tongue and if you say anything I'll spank you."

Spencer couldn't help it. "Is that supposed to be a threat?"

"It is considering if you stick that shiny cock anywhere near me it's gonna come off," Meredith batted her eyes playfully and smiled sweet. Spencer groaned and immediately lost his own smirk.

"Fine, but you owe me."

"Sure sure, whatever." Meredith winked at him and he blushed even more. "Cheer up, Spencie, maybe that hot German babe will be leased again and you can continue to bore her with your static sex."

Spencer snarled steam but held his mouth shut, he knew if he allowed her to egg him on he would do something stupid that would likely result in his fender being knocked in by her possessive partner. He watched her puff off towards the yard below and mumbled. "Heidi likes my static sex."

Meredith wound her way down to the yard and was halfway pleased to find Gordon there refueling before his return to Knapford for his final evening run. She hesitated, unsure whether to approach him or simply follow her head and turn right back around, but then his eyes were on her and she felt sucked in despite the anger that filled his stare. She moved towards him, unsure how the next interaction would go, she chewed the inside of her cheek, then stopped a good five meters from him. She could somehow still feel his heat at that distance. "Guess I didn't hurry up enough."

"Guess not."

Meredith looked at the dusty ballast beneath her then to the fading blue sky above. "I'm loving this warmer weather, aren't you?"

"It's fine."

"Boy, I forgot how fun you were to talk to," Meredith teased, but then she sighed. "Listen, I know you kind of hate my guts, but you could at least pretend to enjoy looking at me."

"I do enjoy looking at you." Gordon stated, still not smiling, though something flickered in his eyes. "It's irritating how much I enjoy looking at you."

"Oh yeah?" Meredith inched closer which caused the blue male to flinch only slightly. "What about me do you like to stare at the most?"

Gordon frowned and narrowed his eyes, he knew what game she was playing and he knew it best to ignore her, but he also didn't want her to stop. He scanned her sparkly build. "Your eyes."

"Oh that's romantic of you," she purred, switching to his track. "What about my eyes entices you?"

"They give you away."

"And what are they giving away this time?"

"You want me."

"Specifically," she whispered, mere inches from him. She could taste his breath, smell his warmth, it was all so strange yet so familiar. "What specifically do I want you for?"

"Right now," Gordon started, breaking his stoicism to embrace the influx of arousal. Her lips hadn't touched his yet, but they were close enough if he said the right words they may have grazed. "They say you want me to kiss you."

"Maybe," she breathed out, her eyes barely open, she was more than ready to melt into him. "And yours say you want the same."

"Maybe," Gordon repeated, they sat in silence, a mere breath separated them until Gordon pushed himself to close the near-gone gap. Her lips felt as soft and untouched as they had years ago, to the time he cornered her on a siding and they made love for the first time after she ran to him demanding he do so. Though the nerves of newness were gone, all that remained was lust and hunger, he took her mouth in his with expert ease, their tongues danced and tangled until he finally pulled away so he could whisper to her. "Follow me."

And Meredith did, Gordon dumped his crew at the big station then barreled down the mainline with the little female in tow. They traveled along until they reached the branch line for Ulfstead and he ripped through the switches so fast they nearly switched from the rumble of his weight. Meredith was a little lost on why they were headed towards the castle but became even more confused when Gordon yet again veered off, towards the abandoned mine before Connor could pass them coming down with a batch of spring tourists.

Their pace slowed as they navigated the overgrown track and Meredith watched in worry as he kept on towards the mouth of the mine. "Gordon, Gordon! What are you doing?"

"Just trust me," he spoke low in a rare seductive tone. Meredith shut up immediately and followed him through the widened entrance until they reached an open cavern, the rails were rusted, sleepers cracked and warped, but held steady by solid bedrock beneath. It was very sketchy but Meredith's body tingled in anticipation, she wondered what the big blue beast had in store for her.

They finally reached somewhere for Meredith to turn around and back up to a set of old stops, she bumped into them and they nearly snapped from what in comparison was a gentle tap. She blinked, her eyes adjusted to the near-darkness surrounding them. "Why did you bring me here?"

Gordon pushed himself against her and breathed into her smokebox. "I want to hear you moan in surround sound."

Meredith swooned, falling into another kiss that left their mouths so wet with spit they could barely feel each other's lips. She pulled away to take a breath and moan. "Fuck me now."

"Mmm, where's my please?" He lifted her up, ran his tongue under his chin.

"Please…" the word itself was so quiet it was hardly audible, but Gordon heard it and she heard the familiar hiss of his rod's relief valves. "Oh gods please." She could feel the warmth just teasing her valve, she rocked her body and grunted in annoyance. "Fuck, when did you become such a tease?!"

"I've learned a thing or two since you've been gone from my life," he then dragged the thickest part of his rod over her slit causing the little female to whimper. He did it again, even slower than before, Meredith shuddered. She grunted in frustration when he pulled away again and stared at him, half-pleading half-angry. Gordon chuckled, it rumbled the walls around them. "I'd forgotten how cute you are when you're cross. Does my brother not play with you?"

"He does," Meredith admitted, sighing when she felt him again rub her. "And I get just as mad with him— if not more."

"I'm sure he handles that well," Gordon mused, too caught up in playing with Meredith's valve to care that she enjoyed his baby brother more than him.

"My whining usually results in me being unable to move for a few hours after," she leaned close to whisper. "Think you could do that? Think you could fuck the breath from my lungs and the strength from my wheels?"

Gordon sat still for a moment, her words tickled his ears and his underbelly, he steadied himself, making sure he had a good grip on her before he ceased his teasing and slid inside her. He inhaled sharply, he'd forgotten just how small she was and the sensation forced a little whimpering moan from the back of his throat. Meredith felt the same, though, he seemed bigger, her eyes about popped from her head the way he stretched her wide. "Gordon!" She cried, she couldn't help the silly giggles that followed. "Gordon, is that you?"

"Every last inch." He cooed, he yanked her into another kiss and began to thrust slow. He savored Meredith's hot breath on his tongue as she moaned into his mouth with his movements, but their kiss broke as he picked up the pace steadily until he was properly slamming her into the stops. Her eyes had closed, her mouth hung open as she groaned and whimpered, the sound echoed loudly around them, which made the male wish to be more feral. He wanted her to scream. "Louder." He demanded quietly.

"If you want me to be louder you have to fuck me harder, big boy." Meredith grinned but she wasn't expecting what happened after.

Something in Gordon seemed to snap, his nostrils flared and his valves whooshed scalding steam. He pulled himself out, twisted her off the tracks then back onto them where she was facing the stops and the wall. She was stunned, but didn't get to bask in the excitement for long, he lifted her rear end up and put himself in her valve, deeper than before. She had to laugh but the laughing turned to near yelling when he began to fuck her hard from behind. Her eyes watered and her throat started to burn from all the awfully sinful sounds she was making. She cried his name, it bounced off the walls and fueled his own dormant lust, each inward thrust sent a shockwave throughout her body and his, and when he came it was painfully hot, though he didn't stop to recover, he kept going fully prepared to flood her body until his own had run dry. He planned to send her back to his brother in a slippery daze knowing full well what that meant for him.

Spencer traveled back to London in a frustrated, pissed-off fog. He barely whistled at passing engines and kept his eyes perfectly forward with a frown so deep it cast a strange shadow on his chin. Meredith's comment about static sex and Heidi left him cross. If only Heidi were here, he thought as he came to a crossing and was forced to stop for an oncoming goods train. She would put that little tramp in her place. He couldn't help but smile, imagining the pretty tender engine just laying into Meredith with that sexy subtle German accent. Then he frowned again when he remembered Flying Scotsman still existed and would likely not tolerate his beloved being berated by a foreigner. "Fuck that stupid motherfucker!" He snarled out loud, startling Sampson on an outbound track across from him. The silver A4 saw the tank engine's startled eyes and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, that wasn't meant for you."

"Are you alright, Spencer?" The goofy little engine inquired with a raise of his bushy brow. "It's not every day I hear you curse like that."

"Yeah, I'm… fine." He lied, proving his point to Meredith earlier that he did in fact have a terrible poker face.

"Okay…?" Sampson was obviously unconvinced, but he had somewhere to be and left the irritated private engine to stew in whatever it was alone.

Spencer was no less happy arriving at Victoria than he was departing Vicarstown and was made even less so when he spotted a certain green A3 parked at the platform beside him. He gritted his teeth, bracing himself for an interrogation. "Evening, Scotty." He mustered a cheerful smile as he came to a stop beside his cousin. Then he noticed something else. "Where's your water tender?"

Scotsman puffed. "Oh, that old thing, I had it taken off. I've no need for it and it just slows me down."

"Ah, well, it did make you appear rather imposing," Spencer winced when he realized what he said and avoided the glare directed his way. "W— what I mean is, you stood out easier with it… that's all."

The A3 rolled his eyes, he was already bored of the conversation. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, Spencer?"

"Huh? What?! No! Of course not." Again with the bad poker face. Scotsman raised his brow in disbelief.

"You're lying to me."

"Am not!"

"Lie to me again and see what happens."

"Meredith it back!" Spencer shouted, it caused the entire terminal to freeze and turn their attention to the mis-matched pair of engines. "She told me not to tell you because she wanted to surprise you but then I saw her leave back into the island with Gordon after he kissed her!"

Scotsman flared up, his deflectors snapped forward and steam rolled from his nostrils, fire flickered at the back of his throat.

"Also I called you a stupid motherfucker on the way here— I'm sorry." Spencer recoiled into himself as Scotsman's eyes burned through him, the dominant male's throat rumbled in a snarl. "Please don't kill me."

"I'll deal with you later," he threatened before taking off towards Vicarstown, abandoning his evening express and crew at the station.

"Quicksilver Quicksilver!"

The only remaining Silver Streak glanced up just in time for his twin brother to slam into him at a refuel station outside York. He growled and cursed as the coal in his tender was drenched with water. "Spencer! What the hell is the matter with you?!"

"I messed up big time," former Silver Link admitted breathlessly. "I told Scot Meredith was back, but that I saw her sneaking away with Gordon on Sodor. I think he's going to kill him!"

"You absolute pillock!" Quicksilver cried. "What were you thinking?! You could get them both killed!"

"Scot wouldn't harm Meredith." Spencer once again was aloof. He backed away from his brother. "He loves her too damn much."

"Yes, but I fear his hatred for Gordon outweighs his love of her." He grumbled and shook the excess water from his body. "Come on, let's go clean up your mess."

The pair raced south back to Victoria where they overtook Gannet who was just preparing to return to his berth for the evening. He watched his shiny brothers charge to the horizon and picked up the pace to catch up, he hardly saw Spencer appear as panicked as he did. "Hey!" He called out to them. "Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"Spencer flapped his gums and now Meredith could be in danger." Quicksilver responded immediately, he wasn't too concerned with Gordon, he knew the Sudrian express engine could hold his own against his brother.

"Ooohh, pretty boy Spencie's in trouble!" Gannet teased, he put himself between the twins and kept pace with them. "No surprise here, you're all looks and no brains."

"I don't want to hear it from the engine who almost accidentally killed Emerson."

"Least I'm capable of doing harm," Gannet sneered. Spencer wanted to clap back but decided it best to hold off, there was no need for yet another brotherly brawl as they reached the bridge that connected the United Kingdom to Sodor.

Only a few miles west of Vicarstown were Meredith and Gordon as they chuffed steadily along the mainline back to the big station. Meredith moved with a slight wobble, her eyes were tired but she wore a massive smile as she listened to Gordon ramble on about his express runs. Usually it was her talking his smokebox off, but their little encounter left the typically reticent engine a gabbing, goofy mess. It was sweet, but also sad.

Time had come for them to switch on their lanterns and as they did they heard what sounded like another train coming and at a rather intense speed. Meredith felt her boiler drop, it was too dark ahead to see but the chuff of steam and pistons was all too familiar, her wheels shook and her boiler rattled. Gordon had stopped talking and the silence that followed was suffocating. Meredith stopped, she knew who it was. "Gordon… RUN!"

The Sudrian engine stopped, unable to process what Meredith said before he found himself barreling backwards down the line, showered in dust and fire. Their collision was heard by a small farm miles away though they dismissed it to nothing more than a bellowing wind. Meredith cried out to Scotsman for him to stop but it only resulted in him putting his cut up face in her's, his eyes dark and full of broken hatred. "How could you?" He snarled. "How could you?!" He bashed her buffers, her real wheels slipped from the tracks and she was stuck, mortified to have been hit by him. She saw his mostly shadowed face, the starlight gave away the tears welled in his eyes. "I gave you my heart, I let you whore around as you please and you still went back to him?!"

"Scot, please, I had no intention of ever seeking him out!"

"So why did you?! I've missed you for so long and I find out that instead of coming to me you go to my fucking brother!" He returned his attention to Gordon, already mangled and weak by the force of his impact. "You cursed her, wished her dead, was this just to spite me?!"

"Maybe it was," Gordon spit, he coughed soot and tried to right himself, none of his wheels were on the tracks. "I wanted you to hurt like I did when I discovered you took her first!"

Scotsman moved back to his brother and latched his buffers to his broken fender, he pulled him onto the tracks but when Gordon thought he was to be released he found himself on his side in a ditch a hundred meters from the line with his tender thrown even further. The LNER engine didn't say a word as the dust settled around his brother, he simply reversed back to Meredith and carefully pulled her onto the tracks. She sat dead still, his expression was entirely unreadable, but their eyes remained locked. Her heart was conflicted, the guilt of what she did made her want to apologize a thousand times over, but the excitement of being by him again left her wanting to jump into his embrace, kiss his lips, and so much more. He then took a breath and she braced herself for the worst.

"Let's get you washed and rid of my brother's stench."

Meredith nodded lightly then waited for the male to turn himself around. Then he stood beside her and they again were silent. She wished to speak, but wondered if it was the best idea. He started up first but kept his speed low so she could keep up. She dared not to look back at Gordon still crumpled and groaning, nearly lost in the woods.

They came across Quicksilver, Gannet, and Spencer at Vicarstown, they all braked suddenly and stared in astounded silence at the sight of the pair completely unharmed, though both badly downtrodden. Quicksilver moved to speak first. "Is everything alright?"

"See to it that your twin understands when to keep his stupid mouth shut." Scotsman barked, leading Meredith back without another word to his lieutenant or subordinates.

Meredith was washed thoroughly under Flying Scotsman's supervision, the entire time neither of them spoke even when they returned to Scotsman's shed, as midnight approached they only shared between them silence. Meredith backed in first, followed by Scotsman though he avoided her gaze effortlessly, glaring down the wooden frame of the shed as if it might catch fire if he looked hard enough. By then Meredith had grown completely sick of silence and spoke. "Aren't you going to say anything? Yell at me maybe?"

"What good will it do," he replied. "You'll do what you want regardless of what I think."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, as if you don't do the same. It was your idea for us to be open in this relationship but it seems as if every time I take advantage of that you're pissed off."

Scotsman's scowl deepened. "I only said that because you kept running around on me. I don't want to share you."

"And I don't want to share you but I'm not the only one who's out and about. What about Dirk? Or Emma or even Emerson? I didn't completely explode when I found out you were banging my former best friend! So why is it different? Why do you about throw a rod anytime I sleep with someone else?"

"Because it feels like I'm being undermined!" Scotsman declared, finally locking his eyes with her. "You're mine and every male who hooks up with you is one less who respects me and my station."

"So why let me do it?!"

"Because I'm not trying to lock you in a cage, Mer! I love you, more than I should, and if you're happiest when you're allowed complete freedom to do as you wish then I have to accept that."

"But that's not when I'm my happiest," the little engine said, her tone softened with each word. "It took me a year across the sea being endlessly pandered to realize that the only male I want, the only one I need is you."

"Then what was that with Gordon?!"

"Closure."

Scotsman was taken aback, she didn't need to explain further, but he had not a clue what to say. It was then he allowed himself to take her in, to let it hit him she was home. He saw her face, the gentle caress of the night's light brought out the roundness of her cheeks and the subtle hint of her age found in tiny wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Her eyes still as bright and lively as the day he first met her so many years ago. Her mouth teased a smile when she realized what he was doing though it faded as he moved closer, he pressed his nose to her cheek then turned his head to kiss her. It was delicate, it tickled her lips like a feather, a type of kiss only found from someone who loved the other deeply. He pulled away before the embrace could advance, he placed his forehead to her's and stared far into her eyes. "Just you and me."

Meredith took a slow breath in.

"Just you and me."

Heidi is another character who belongs to Heimchen/Pretty Katydid. You can read her in "Kestrel And Friends: An A4 Overload" over on Ao3 if you're interested in perusing the allusions! It's great fun so long as you're not too virgin-minded or bound by logic. Lol