A/N: This chapter is based on *As Good as Gordon*. As we know, there is some confusion about what happened after Emily got stuck with the Express. James takes her up to the Docks and then he dissapears from the screen to go to take the Express. But soon we see him pushing Emily under the water tower at Knapford Yard... Well, I tried to fix that according to my logic. Even more disconcerting is the fact that the narrator says that Emily 'could see Brendam Docks up ahead' when actually she was at Hawin Croka Canal. But I decided to ignore this little detail.

Guest 4: Thanks for the beautiful comment. I understand Emily perfectly, for I am a mother too and I know what losing patience and being bossy to the children is like. I'm happy to read 'Heavenly surprise from Emily's heart to Thomas'. Her innocent relationship with Thomas is the sweetest thing we can see on the show and I wanted to emphasize that. By the way, I didn't take long to discover that 'Guest 2' was you. :D

Guest 50: Thank you. I wasn't so sure while writing the dialogue between Edward and Emily, since there is no interaction between them in the show. But a few days ago I found an image of a T&F's magazine where it says 'Edward always has a good advice for Emily', so I thougt that part was convincing after all and I'm glad to know that you liked it.

CHAPTER VII

AS GOOD AS HERSELF

"They told me you made the rides almost in the same amount of time as me and I think you should be proud of that…" -Gordon

They were both absolutely silent at the wash-down.

Only the noise of the water that the workers threw over them could be heard.

As she watched the soap foam sliding down the boiler of the red engine, Emily tried to forget the embarrassment. She had to be distracted by something; and what better than that boiler that had already distracted her once? She followed the path of the foam with her gaze until it fell on the running-plate, and she seemed not to tire of doing the same thing over and over again.

It could be said that James was enjoying having Emily's attention on him, but actually he was sad for her. He wanted to help her feel well, but he did not know how to do it. Emily was really ashamed.

Emily had had a day with ups and downs. In the morning, Sir Topham Hatt chose her to take the Express instead of Gordon, who had to take the newly-elected Sodor Mayor on a tour of the island. Emily was happy and wanted to show everyone that she could be as good as Gordon. But unfortunately, impatience got the better of her…

Emily got out so fast from Knapford Station with the Express that she left the brake coach behind. She arrived on time at Kellsthorpe Station, but on the way back she had to wait at the itersection for Edward to pass and she got cross because she thought that he would make her late. Later at Maithwaite Station she did not have patience to wait for Bertie and left just a few seconds before he arrived. Then, on the way to Brendam she needed water, but James had first arrived at the water tower with his slow goods train. That made Emily even more cross and she left without filling her tank up. She was going full steam ahead, determined to finish the ride in the same amount of time as Gordon. But she bumped her carriages so much that the passengers had an uncomfortable ride. Finally, when she was about to reach Brendam Docks, she ran out of water and stopped altogether.

Emily had never been so disappointed. Her happiness to take the Express was frustrated at the last minute because of her impatience. But it was also frustrated another wish of hers that she had kept in her heart under lock and key: impressing Gordon. Ever since she first saw the big blue engine, Emily wanted to be his friend. But her relationship with Gordon was limited to a greeting each time they crossed. Gordon did not seem to be interested in her friendship. So when Sir Topham Hatt asked her to take the Express, Emily thought she finally had a chance to get his attention.

But now Emily herself wanted to stay out of Gordon's sight because of the shame.

James saw that Emily sighed sadly and he decided he should do anything to cheer her up. Then he had an idea. A bubbly idea, by the way. James sucked in air and began to free it slowly through his funnel. The result was that a huge bubble of soap formed. This made a smile appear on Emily's face and James felt that he was finally giving her some joy. As soon as the bubble was separated from his funnel, James looked up and saw his work with satisfaction. His huge bubble floated in the air for a few seconds; then, it began to descend and... burst on hitting the tip of his nose.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Good one, James!"

"I'm a genius, right?"

"I must admit so. Hee! Hee!"

"Do it yourself now."

"Oh... I don't know how to do it."

"Just let the air out slowly through your funnel."

"But... what if I can't do it?"

"Come on... Try it... It's fun."

"Okay. Here I go."

Emily did as James pointed out and formed an even larger bubble than the one he had made.

"Wow! That's called talent, Emily!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Let's make lots of bubbles!"

So they did. And soon a lot of giant bubbles floated over them, making them laugh out loud.

James looked affectionately at Emily. Now she looked happy. She no longer looked ashamed as when he helped her in the morning after she got stuck with the Express...

James was getting ready to take another slow goods train at Knapford Yard when Sir Topham Hatt arrived. "Leave that and take me to Brendam, James," said Sir Topham Hatt. "Looks like Emily broke down. They have just told me she got stuck."

"Oh... I think she just ran out of water, sir," replied James. "She didn't wait to stock up when she saw that I came first to the water tower."

"What?! That takes the biscuit! Let's go right away!"

"Y-yes, sir." James felt pity for Emily. He had hoped that she would give Gordon a lesson, but he knew that now their controller would take the Express away from her.

As they found Emily, Sir Topham Hatt scolded her immediately. "You should've waited!" he said. "And now you've caused confusion and delay! You left the brake coach; stranded Bertie's passengers and bumped your carriages. You must learn to be more patient!"

Emily would have wanted to become invisible at the time. "I'm sorry, sir," she said sadly, and then James pulled her to the docks. Emily wanted to redeem herself and promised Sir Topham Hatt that she would have patience next time, so Sir Topham Hatt allowed her to take James' slow goods train instead.

James took Emily to Knapford along with the Express. All the way, Emily did not say a single word. She even had her eyes closed, because she did not want to see anyone under those circumstances, much less Gordon. Besides, she was ashamed that James was a witness to her misfortune. As soon as they got to the station, Emily was disengaged from the coaches, and James took her to the yard to stock up on water. Then she took the slow goods train, and this time she did her job properly.

The bubbles game was over, and now the workers were drying up the two engines.

"You're not ashamed in front of me anymore, are you?" asked James.

Emily smiled sheepishly. "Well... no."

"Glad to hear that." James looked deeply into her eyes, and he whispered something that came straight from his heart. "You're beautiful..."

Emily blushed. "Thank you."

"Why thank you? I really mean it."

"I really mean thank you."

They both laughed.

Emily enjoyed moments like this with James. Although she had been disappointed to learn that he was Sodor's most troublesome engine, she sensed that James hid his virtues in the bottom of his heart. And one day she would discover that she was not mistaken. One day she would know how complementary she and James were, and what a beautiful flower they would form together.

Soon, Emily's joy was interrupted by a powerful whistle she did not want to hear at all. "Oh, no!" she exclaimed. "Why did it have to be him? He'll make fun of me!"

"Calm down, Emily... Gordon has no authority to say anything against you. He already made even more disgraceful mistakes."

"Even so I don't want to see him. I'll keep my eyes closed until he passes." Emily closed her eyes and waited. But unfortunately, Gordon stopped. And very close to her...

"Is she sleeping?" whispered Gordon.

"Yes," replied James. "Why?"

"I wanted to ask her how she feels after having taken the Express."

James got cross. "Why do you want to tease her, Gordon? She did her best!"

"And who is teasing her, you silly? She already took express trains before becoming a living engine and was eager to take another one again. That's why I wanted to know how she feels. I heard she made some mistakes during the rides today, but I bet it was just because of the nervousness. I know what nervousness is like."

James was surprised by Gordon's words. And Emily was even more; so much that she could no longer keep on pretending to be asleep. So Emily opened her eyes.

"Oh... sorry," said Gordon. "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"I was just pretending to be asleep, Gordon," responded Emily. "I'm very ashamed about my mistakes and didn't want to see you like this. That's how I feel now."

Gordon felt pity for Emily. Although he had been jealous of her for having been chosen to take the Express, now he was secretly impressed by her strength and speed and he did not want her to feel bad. "You don't have to be ashamed, Emily," he soothed. "I'm sorry I said a lot of things to discourage you before you left Tidmouth Sheds this morning...They told me you made the trips in almost the same amount of time as me and I think you should be proud of that…You simply lacked patience to avoid your mistakes. I'm sure next time you'll do it right."

Emily could not believe that Gordon was speaking sincerely. The blue engine's gaze was compassionate and his voice sounded nice. "Thank you, Gordon," said Emily, smiling at him tenderly. Then she thought it was her opportunity to ask him some question that she wanted to ask since she first saw him. "Could we be friends?"

"Why do you ask that? We're already friends."

"But... I thought you didn't like me."

Gordon gave Emily a sweet smile. He could not help but feel affection for her just like his friends. Emily had a natural talent for awakening tenderness in everyone's heart. "Of course I like you, Emily," said Gordon. "We all like you."

"Aww... Then I can already feel happy."

"That's better. And I can already go home happily. See you tomorrow, my friend."

Emily chuckled. "See you, my big friend."

And Gordon left. He would have liked to talk with Emily a little more, but he did not want to show so much weakness in front of her, much less in front of James.

Emily sighed. "Wow...," she said. "He really isn't that bad when we know him well."

"You're right," responded James. He was as surprised as Emily about Gordon's attitude. But there was something else that intrigued him. "Emily... is it true that you're an express engine?"

"Yes, I am. I took fast trains along with my brothers before being a living engine."

"And how do you remember that?"

"For I've seen that in my dreams, as if it was a movie."

"Oh... That's very interesting... Then, I suppose you didn't know your father when you were born."

"No. But I was welcomed by his brother, a kindly man named... James."

James' eyes sparkled with joy. "Do you mean the first name you heard was mine?"

"Yes. Do you want me to call you 'sir' now?"

They both laughed again.

Soon the workers finished drying them, and then they left the wash-down. They said goodnight to each other at Knapford Junction and James went on his way to Tidmouth Sheds.

Emily entered the yard and was going to her shed with a smile on her face. She felt that she could finally forget the shame after having spent a nice moment with James and having talked with Gordon. But soon she saw something that made her smile fade while shame seized her soul once again.

She saw Edward.

Emily still had something pending before she could feel fully happy and sleep calm that night: apologizing to Edward for having been rude to him in the morning while pulling the Express. "Hurry up, slowcoach; or you will make me late!" she had screamed at him at the intersection. The next time that they crossed in the same place, Emily had already learned her lesson and waited patiently for him to pass. She even gave him a smile. But even so, Emily felt that she should formally ask him for forgiveness. So she took courage and slowly approached him. "Edward…," she called.

The kind engine looked at her sweetly. "Hello, Emily. Do you want me to move onto the other track? I suppose you're going to your shed now."

"No. Actually... I came to tell you something... I... I'm really cross with myself because of my impatience, for it made me make disgraceful mistakes this morning, and... I want you to know that I'm very sorry for having screamed at you... That was by far the worse thing I've done today, to say the least. Could you forgive me?"

Edward smiled, and his answer made Emily's heart break. "No."

"N-no?" Emily was about to cry. She did not expect that answer.

"Emily...," said Edward, still smiling, "to be able to forgive; we must feel offended... and I don't feel offended at all... Why whould I forgive you then?"

Emily's heart came back to life. That answer was even less expected. "Oh, Edward...," said Emily softly, "how can you be so gentle like this? I was very rude to you... I even saw you getting sad when I screamed at you... And now you say that you don't feel offended?" Emily closed her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks. Edward's sweetness had touched her.

Edward slowly approached her up to touch her buffers with his. "Don't cry, Emily...," he whispered. "I admit that I felt sad, but I didn't get angry with you... I know you just wanted to show how good you are… and I know you're struggling to obtain the virtue of patience... I'm not angry with you... You don't need to ask for forgiveness."

Emily opened her eyes and her gaze met Edward's. "Thanks for your understanding," she said, "it really makes me feel better after having been so silly… I should've known I'm not as good as Gordon, and so my impatience would have not won the battle."

Edwatd looked at her compassionately. "We're all different, Emily," he soothed. "No one is better nor worse than another... You shouldn't compare yourself to others... You just need to be as good as yourself."

Emily finally smiled. "I've never known an angel as good as you, Edward," she said. "You make me feel important and you always help me with your advice."

"It's a pleasure to help you," responded Edward. "Well, you must go to rest now. Those charming wheels deserve to relax."

"O-oh…" Emily blushed deeply.

Emily slept happily that night. Although impatience made her make mistakes and even being rude; her friends showed that they did not hold any grudges towards her. James gave her a tender, amusing moment at the wash-down; Gordon confirmed her that they were already friends, and Edward comforted her once again with his sweetness and wisdom.

Emily would still have another battle against impatience. But, just like today, she would learn from her mistakes.

And her friends would show her that they loved her just as she was.