In the Roberts household, Dowager Hatt was having a splendid time playing with Audrey. Now three years old, the little toddler was pushing around a wooden toy engine on the floor and peeping her whistle for it. Her whistle was a sound that she made sure no one on Sodor ever forgot about, especially her father who was currently talking on the phone in the other room.

"Yes, I should be done with work by then. …Oh really? Then we can just meet at Knapford if that works for you. Yes, excellent! Thank you so much. I'll see you at five o'clock."

Mr. Roberts hung up the telephone and came back to the living room. "Thank you once again for helping out, Dowager Hatt. You'll remember to give Audrey a bath before this evening, right?"

"Of course I will, sonny! Don't worry about it," Dowager Hatt smiled, looking down at Audrey. "She'll be perfect for her first family photo!"

"Pretty photo, Daddy?" Audrey smiled up at her father.

"Yes, darling. We'll have a pretty photo to frame and place above the fireplace." Roberts lovingly patted her head.

"Percy too?" She asked, holding up her toy engine.

"And yes, Percy will be in the photo too." He chuckled. "Be good for your nanny. Alright, sweetheart?"

"Otay, Daddy!" Audrey nodded.

"That's my girl! I'll see you tonight," He gave her a kiss before heading out the door and making his short trek over to Tidmouth Sheds. He could hear Percy telling the other engines about his plans for later that day.

"And my driver says I get to be in the photo too!" Percy said eagerly.

"How lovely is that!" Edward grinned. "I've never heard of an engine being part of a family photo before."

"You'll want to make sure you get cleaned extra well at the wash down before the photographer comes," Henry said.

"Of course I will!" Percy replied. "I'll be spic and span once I finish all of my jobs for the day."

The Fat Controller arrived to meet with his engines. "I must inform you all that due to a water shortage, there will be a limited number of wash downs allowed today. Please only use a wash station if it's absolutely necessary. Usefulness before cleanliness."

"Will I be able to get a wash later today, sir?" Percy asked hopefully. "I have to look my best for my driver's family photo!"

"We'll see, Percy," Sir Topham replied. "For now, I'll need you to collect coal trucks from the docks…"

Once Topham gave out the jobs for the day and left, Percy's expression turned cross. "Just my luck!" He said to the other engines. "Of course the Fat Controller gives me all the dirty jobs today. Make sure there's enough water for me before evening!"

"You'll be just fine, Percy," Roberts said as he boarded him. "You'll look perfect for the photo. Now let's focus on our jobs for the day."

Percy agreed, though he promised himself that he would be extra careful while working to keep as clean as possible. "Try not to get too dirty, Percy!" Gordon called out, James chuckling at his remark.

"Don't call me..!" Percy growled, but he held his tongue. For now. He had to stay focused on his jobs after all.

When he arrived at Brendam Docks, he saw a line of Troublesome Trucks waiting for him near the coal chute. "Look out!" They cried playfully. "The green caterpillar on wheels has come to get us!"

"Be quiet!" Percy scolded them as usual. He attached himself to the train and started pushing the line so that the first truck at the end could be loaded, but the trucks weren't in the mood to cooperate.

"On! On! On!" They shouted. The trucks pulled Percy under the coal chute. Before he had time to react, the hatch above him opened. Dirty, dusty coal rained down onto Percy, ruining his bright green paint.

"Oh no!!" Percy cried out. "I'm filthy!!"

"Oh dear…" Mr. Roberts sighed. He got coal dust on his uniform as well. Jonathan did too, but that was normal for a fireman. "Well, nothing we can do about it for now. Usefulness before cleanliness, remember."

Percy filled his coal trucks and left in a sulk. His delivery was for Callan Station which was quite a ways to go, and he knew the Troublesome Trucks wouldn't let up their teasing for a minute.

"Clickety clack! Don't look back! Dirty Percy's on our track!" They sang and snickered.

"Be. Quiet!" Percy snapped. These trucks were not helping to improve his mood any. He felt some relief when he finally got to Callan Station. He saw Harold the helicopter there picking up medical supplies to deliver.

"Hello there, Percy, ol' chap!" Harold greeted before noticing how filthy the little engine was. "I say! You look like you've been busy today!"

Percy just grumped. "From now on, I'm only doing work where I won't get dirty! That way I can be cleaned up for my family photo with Audrey later today."

"Good luck with that!" Harold replied as his blades started to spin. "Wish I could stay and chat, but I'm a very busy fellow, you know! Cheerio!" With that, he flew back up into the air. Harold didn't notice that the wind he had caused blew dirt, ashes, and dust off the rail sidings and all over Percy. Now he was so filthy, you couldn't even see his paint!

"Harold!!" Percy cried out angrily at what was now a white dot flying away in the sky. "That stupid whirlybird..!"

"Calm down, Percy…" Mr. Roberts said, trying to shake the soot off of his clothes. "We still have work to do."

"But I don't want to do work!" Percy argued. "I want a wash down!"

Mr. Roberts got out to get a good look at his engine. "Goodness, you really are a mess. Alright then. I think this does call for a good wash."

"Oh, thank you, sir!" Percy beamed. He could feel the relief already washing over him like a bucket of sudsy water. Roberts took him to the nearest station, but Percy was very surprised to see Gordon just arriving for a cleaning as well.

"Oh dear, Percy," Gordon said with a smirk. "It looks like you didn't heed my words very well, did you?"

"Neither did you!" Percy spat while examining Gordon's paint which was practically flawless compared to his own. "You don't need a wash down! The Fat Controller said we only have enough water for a few cleanings and to only get one if you really need it. And I really, really need it! You're only getting one to feel important!"

Gordon let out a deep sigh. "I am important. I'm an express engine. I always have to look my best, otherwise people won't want to ride with me."

Percy was about to retort before Gordon continued, "Buuut… I can see you really are filthy, and I know how much that family photo means to you. So, out of pure generosity, I shall let you go first."

This surprised Percy even more, but he was not about to let this rare moment slip out of his grasp. "Thank you so much, Gordon! I really mean it!"

As Percy got covered in bubbles, Mr. Roberts and Gordon's driver decided to take a short break and have a chat together near the signal box. Gordon, meanwhile, decided to strike up a conversation while he waited for his turn. "How is little Audrey by the way? It's been a while since I've last seen her."

"Oh, she's doing wonderfully!" Percy replied cheerfully under the suds. "Audrey really is growing up fast! She doesn't ride in my cab anymore, so I don't see her as much as I used to, but I always try to find time to visit her. And everytime I do, she either looks bigger, walks faster, or knows new words! Can you imagine that, Gordon? Knowing absolutely nothing once you get built, but learning everything so quickly?"

"I most definitely prefer knowing what I know as soon as I'm built," Gordon said back. "I'd rather not look like an absolute fool once I'm out on the rails. …Did I hear you correctly when you said Audrey no longer rides in your cab?"

"Yeah…" Percy sighed. "The Fat Controller found out and told my driver to stop doing it."

"Thank goodness," Gordon said. "I was hoping he would actually listen to me for a change."

Percy took a second to process Gordon's words before gawking at him with a look of hurt betrayal on his face. "Gordon!! You told the Fat Controller about Audrey?!"

"I did," Gordon replied simply.

"B-But I told you to keep it secret!"

"There are some secrets," Gordon said calmly, "that shouldn't stay secrets. If it meant that Audrey would get hurt, the Fat Controller needed to know."

"Hurt? Audrey wouldn't get hurt!" Percy exclaimed.

"Humans are very fragile beings compared to engines, Percy," the big engine explained. "We can be very dangerous should something go awry. Remember when I-"

"There you go about engines being dangerous again!" Percy exclaimed crossly. "We are not dangerous! I would never hurt Audrey! I promised that years ago!"

"And I told you that accidents happen regardless," Gordon said. "And thanks to me and the Fat Controller, we don't have to worry about Audrey's safety any more."

"Audrey is just like any other passenger! There's nothing you need to worry about."

Percy shut his mouth and eyes as clean water rinsed him off. Gordon rolled his eyes. "There's a reason Sir Topham rarely gives you passengers, Percy…"

"Because I'm a really good shunting engine," Percy replied casually as he was dried off.

"Proper work for an engine who tends to be a bull in a china shop," Gordon remarked.

Before Percy could ask what he meant, Mr. Roberts came back and started Percy up, allowing him to chuff forward to make room for Gordon. "You look splendid, Percy! Now then, you'll be taking a couple goods trains, shunting coaches at Knapford, then we'll have one more delivery to make before we get our picture taken."

"As long as I don't get dirty again!" Percy said. As he took his goods trains around the island, Percy couldn't stop thinking about Gordon's words. Dangerous, pah! He smirked to himself. I haven't had an accident in ages! Gordon's just jealous because he isn't an amazing big brother like me!

Now having a boost of confidence, Percy was able to get through the day with no worries at all. His deliveries went without a hitch, and his paint was spotless. He also knew that shunting coaches for the big engines would be a clean job. He was going to look immaculate for that photo! He could already imagine how proud Mr. Roberts would be of him.

While Percy was getting passenger coaches ready for James, Sir Topham Hatt stepped out of his office. "Roberts, good thing you're here!" He called out to Percy's driver.

Roberts looked out from Percy's cab. "Yes, sir? What can I do for you?"

"I just got a call from my mother," the Fat Controller said. "She says she's terribly sorry, but she forgot about a very important meeting she has today that she cannot miss. Do you have another caretaker for Audrey?"

Mr. Roberts looked dismayed. "Usually I would ask Mrs. Atkinson to look after her, but I know she's busy today. Is your granddaughter Bridget available to babysit?"

"I'm afraid not," Topham shook his head. "She's away with her husband on holiday. If you need to stay home, I shall allow it."

"Wait, please, sir!" Percy spoke up. "Mr. Roberts doesn't need to go home. Audrey can ride in my cab again! Please, sir, I always make sure that I'm extra careful-"

"No, Percy," the Fat Controller interrupted. "I simply cannot allow a baby to ride in your cab! It's just not safe. Perhaps once she's older, she can ride with you again. But until then, I will not allow it."

"But it's not fair, sir! Gordon said we're dangerous, but I know we're not-"

"Percy, that is an order!"

Percy saw the serious look on Sir Topham's face and sighed. "Yes, sir.."

The Fat Controller nodded and turned to Roberts. "I'll get a replacement driver for Percy. You go home to your daughter."

"Thank you for your understanding, sir," Roberts replied. The Fat Controller returned to his office. Mr. Roberts turned to Percy. "I know you miss having her with you, Percy, but safety is more important. It was silly of me to bring her aboard, and I'm lucky to still have my job."

"I thought you trusted me!" Percy pouted. "I've been a really useful and a really careful engine. And I promised that I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt little Audrey! Why does everyone keep saying I will?!"

"Percy," Mr. Roberts said calmly, "it's not your fault. There are rules in place, and we have to follow them to ensure the railway runs properly."

"You and the fireman are in my cab all the time!" Percy snapped back. "There shouldn't be a problem with Audrey being in there too!"

Roberts sighed. "You'll understand one day, Percy. I promise that you and Audrey will still see each other often. And like Sir Topham Hatt said, she can ride with you when she's older. For now, just be patient. Okay?"

Percy let off steam. He didn't feel like answering. He didn't talk again until his replacement driver came to take over. "What's that sour face for?" He asked the little engine. "I wouldn't be looking so glum if I had a special delivery to make!"

Percy's eyes widened with interest. "A special, sir?"

"Yes indeed!" He grinned. "Your last job is to take a shipment of sugar to Mr. Jolly's chocolate factory! Doesn't that sound fun?"

Percy's eyes lit up, and his smile returned to his face. "Oo! Sugar! That does sound fun! And it's nice and clean too! I'll still be spic and span for the photo!"

"Atta boy!" His driver smiled. Percy made his way out of Knapford to collect the trucks of sugar. Mr. Jolly's logo was plastered on them, making them easy to find.

"Everyone will know I'm making a special delivery with these trucks!" Percy grinned. He coupled himself up and chuffed down the line feeling much happier. He peeped to all the engines he passed by, and he peeped to the children waving and cheering at him from the bridge before passing under. I wonder if Audrey will be one of those children waving at me one day… Percy thought to himself. Or peeping! He added with a chuckle.

Mr. Jolly's factory was right up ahead. However, neither Percy nor his driver knew that an oil tanker had leaked onto the line near where he was supposed to drop off his trucks. His breaks were applied, but his wheels just skidded across the oily tracks.

"Oh no!!" cried Percy. "I can't stop!!"

Percy's driver and fireman jumped out of his cab. He hoped the buffers would be able to stop him, but he was going too fast. Percy smashed right through the buffers, ran right off the tracks, and crashed straight through the factory wall. His crew could only watch and listen from outside as a symphony of crashes, splatters, and the startled shouts of work people came from inside. A few seconds later, Percy emerged from the other side, thankfully stopped by the force of crashing through another wall.

His driver and fireman rushed through the broken wall to make sure everyone inside was alright. Fortunately, one of the men heard Percy coming and moved everyone to safety before his crash. Therefore, no one was hurt aside from a few minor cuts and bruises from flying debris.

Percy coughed and sputtered, dust and cocoa powder filling the air. His driver came over to inspect the damage. As soon as he saw the poor engine, however, his face turned pink from trying to hold back his laughter.

"Yuck!" Percy exclaimed, feeling a thick substance drip from his face. "I've never been this dirty!" He was completely covered in funnel to footplate in sticky, gooey chocolate like a giant chocolate-coated strawberry.

"O-Oh dear, Percy…" his driver snickered. "We'd better hope that you can get another wash down before you get your picture taken."

Percy let out a sad sigh. Duck came by with the breakdown van that had two cranes attached to it named Judy and Jerome. All of them seemed amused at Percy's plight.

"Looks like you've gotten yourself in a sticky situation, Percy!" Duck joked.

"Sticky is right!" Percy puffed, not nearly as amused. "This messy stuff keeps sticking to my lips and making them all-"

Percy paused. His eyes suddenly went wide with wonder. In an effort to make his lips less sticky, he ran his tongue over the melted chocolate covering them. A most delightful taste filled his mouth, a sensation that the little engine had never experienced before. Engines did have the ability to taste; they could tell when they had good or bad water in their tanks, the same with coal in their fireboxes as well. They had no need to take anything through their mouths, and the only time they did was usually from an unfortunate accident. In that case, it was most likely something not nearly as pleasant as chocolate. More likely it would be mud, tar, or coal dust. Fortunately for Percy, this accident seemed to have a sweeter outcome than he first anticipated.

"Bubbling boilers!" He exclaimed with a grin. "This is chocolate? It's amazing! No wonder people love this so much!"

His driver laughed. "Don't eat too much, Percy! You don't want to get boilerache!"

Percy licked his lips once more as Judy and Jerome lifted him up into the air and onto the train. That's when Percy saw just how much damage he'd caused. Not only were there two massive holes on each side of the factory where he had entered and exited, all of the windows had shattered as well. When Duck started pushing Percy away, he could see the interior was completely demolished as well. Any glimmer of happiness Percy got from his first taste of sweet chocolate immediately vanished.

Then he saw the people.

Percy had his eyes shut the entire time, but only now did he remember the shocked screams of the factory workers who had only just moved out of his way. Even though no one was seriously injured, he still noticed people getting bandages put on them as well as others utterly caked in ruined chocolate and dust from the wreckage. His thoughts drifted to Gordon's previous words:

"Humans are very fragile beings compared to engines, Percy. We can be very dangerous should something go awry."

As if to tease him, his memory reminded him of his response:

"We are not dangerous! I would never hurt Audrey! I promised that years ago!"

At the thought of Audrey, his boiler went cold.

"Wait, please, sir! Mr. Roberts doesn't need to go home. Audrey can ride in my cab again! Please, sir, I always make sure that I'm extra careful…"

What if the Fat Controller had let him take Audrey? What would've happened moments before his crash? Would Mr. Roberts and Jonathan have been able to jump out with Audrey unarmed? Or would someone have gotten hurt in the process? Would she have gotten hurt..? What if they didn't jump out? What would have happened then? If Audrey got hurt, then there would be no one to blame but-

"Percy!!" Duck shouted.

Percy was snapped out of his thoughts. He didn't notice the tears running down his chocolatey face. "H-Huh? What is it?"

"I was letting you know that we're heading back to Tidmouth Sheds for now until Sir Topham Hatt can see you. But… are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

Percy just looked away. "I just… I just want to be alone right now."

"I see. Well, most of the engines are back at the sheds. Hopefully they won't give you too much trouble."

"I doubt it…" Percy sighed.

When the other engines saw Percy, they all had a good laugh at how ridiculous he looked. "You look good enough to eat!" teased Thomas.

"Pudding Percy!" laughed James.

"Choc-ice on wheels!" added Henry.

"Disgraceful…" said Gordon.

Normally Percy would just tell them off, but the other engines quickly realized something was off about the smallest engine, and it wasn't his paintwork. Percy's eyes were downcast on the rails below him. They were filled with a despair that none of the engines had ever seen in the normally cheerful saddle tank. Without a word, Duck pushed Percy across the turntable and into his berth. Percy wasn't even facing the right way, but the candy-coated engine either didn't notice or didn't care. As soon as Duck backed away, the doors to Percy's shed closed shut. It was clear he wanted to be left alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Aaaaand there we are!" Mr. Roberts smiled proudly. He stood back and admired how lovely his daughter looked in her little rosy pink dress. He even managed to tame her hair which tended to stick out. "There's my little princess!"

"I'm a princess!" Audrey spun around, watching her dress puff out around her.

"Yes, a very graceful one indeed!" Mr. Roberts chuckled.

"Bring blankie?" Audrey asked, holding up her precious security blanket, the very same that Mr. Roberts had found her swaddled in three years ago.

"Alright, Audrey, you can bring it," Roberts said as he checked his pocket watch. "Now Percy should be here any-"

The telephone rang. Mr. Roberts picked it up. "Roberts residence… oh! Sir Topham Hatt, sir! …What?! I-Is he alright?! Was anyone hurt?!"

Audrey looked on. Although she didn't know what her father was discussing, something told her it wasn't good.

"I'll be right over." Mr. Roberts hung up the phone and picked up Audrey. "Percy's been in an accident. He's at Tidmouth and apparently refuses to come out of his shed."

"Percy hurt..?" Audrey asked worriedly.

"He's alright, dear. I think he just needs some help."

Tidmouth Sheds was a short walk away from where the Roberts lived. Audrey loved visiting the engines at the sheds. She could stay there all day listening to their chatter and ask them a bajillion questions that would pop up in her head about the engines and the world around them. Today, however, the sheds seemed different. No one seemed as cheerful (minus Gordon who always looked grumpy). Despite the smiles they gave her when she arrived with her dad, something was definitely off. All the engines were in their usual berths; there was Gordon, Henry, James, Edward, Thomas, and-

The doors to Percy's berth were closed. Mr. Roberts went over and knocked on the green doors. "Percy? Are you in there?"

"Percy?" Audrey knocked too, adding her own whistling to the mix.

"…yes…" came a barely audible voice.

"Can we come in?" Roberts asked.

"No thank you," Percy replied.

"But why not?" Roberts raised an eyebrow. "Percy, the photographer will be at Knapford soon!"

"Go on without me," Percy sulked. "I'm a mess. And I don't deserve to be in the family photo."

"Nonsense!" Roberts flew open the doors. He wasn't expecting to see Percy's bunker staring back. He wasn't also expecting to see what looked like a brown goo splattered on his sides. Sir Topham Hatt didn't say what happened to Percy. He said it would be better if Roberts just saw for himself, but this didn't help calm him down any.

As he walked to the back of the sheds to meet Percy face-to-face, he saw more of the brown stuff covering his engine, shocked once he finally saw the depressed look on Percy's face completely coated in-

Mr. Roberts started sniffing the air. "I-Is that… chocolate?"

The driver who was with Percy during the accident walked over. "Poor lad lost control on some oily rails and crashed through Mr. Jolly's chocolate factory. No one was badly injured thank goodness."

"Oh Percy…" Mr. Roberts walked closer with Audrey who reached out a hand to try and touch Percy's face.

"No! Please!" Percy suddenly exclaimed. "Don't let Audrey near me!"

Mr. Roberts was taken aback, Audrey even more so. Tears started to swell in her eyes. She thought she had done something wrong. Percy saw that he had made Audrey cry and now felt worse than ever. Percy sniffed. "I… I just didn't want to hurt her…"

"Whatever do you mean?" Roberts asked while comforting his daughter.

"I-I could've gotten her hurt!" Percy cried, tears starting to pour down his cheeks. "Engines really are dangerous! I wanted Audrey to ride in my cab again! But if she did, she would've been in the accident, and then, a-and then…!"

"Relax, Percy…" came the soothing voice of Edward. "Everything is alright. Everyone is okay. What happened today wasn't your fault."

"Yeah! A leaky tanker got cooking oil all over the tracks! They hadn't set up warning signs yet," Thomas added.

"I'm always getting into accidents," weeped Percy. "Always, always, always! I cause confusion and delay and… and I'm never coming out of the sheds ever again!"

"That's not true, Percy," Roberts continued. "You've proven time and time again what a really useful engine you are. Audrey loves it when I tell stories about you, like the time you got the schoolchildren home from the flood."

"And you were a great help when Gordon, James, and I went on our strike," Henry said with a sheepish grin. "Not our proudest moment…"

"And no one on Sodor is better at taking the mail than you!" Roberts smiled.

Percy felt a little better, but his eyes stared over at Audrey who was reaching her arms up to hug him. Mr. Roberts set her down. "Not now, dear. Wouldn't want to get your lovely dress dirty."

Percy sighed. "Go on and take the photo without me. I don't deserve to be in it after nearly putting Audrey in danger. I don't deserve to be her big brother at all…"

Audrey looked up at Percy. She could tell he was very sad, but didn't quite understand why. Mr. Roberts let out a breath and patted Percy's buffer. "Audrey was never in any danger. You've kept your promise to protect her. There's no engine in all of Sodor I'd put my trust in more to care for my daughter than you, Percy. Her big brother."

James pouted. "Hmph! I'd say I'd do just as good of a job, if not better!" The response He got was a weesh of steam from Edward. James sputtered as water dripped from his face.

Edward chuckled and gazed at Percy. "Guess who taught me to do that?"

For the first time that day, Percy let out a laugh. All the engines smiled and started to laugh too, even James. Roberts and Audrey joined in, although Audrey didn't really know what was so funny.

"Oh, I wish I could be in the photo, sir," Percy said, "but I'm a complete mess, and I already had my wash down today."

"It's alright, Percy," Roberts said with a smile. "Audrey and I will take this one together, then you can join us for the next one."

"That's a good ide-AAH!!" Percy jolted forward unexpectedly. The engines gasped, and Mr. Roberts took a step back. Then Percy jutted forward again! "W-What's happening?!"

"Fire and smoke..!" Thomas exclaimed under his breath. Mr. Roberts followed his gaze. There was little Audrey, no bigger than one of Percy's four wheels, pushing against one of them with her little hands. With a grunt and a shove, she pushed Percy out of the sheds.

"A-Audrey!!" Mr. Roberts's eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he raced over to the toddler and swept her up into his arms. In the process, Audrey accidentally dropped her blanket and watched as it fluttered under Percy.

"Did… Audrey do that?!" Henry exclaimed.

"Nonsense!" boomed Gordon. "This isn't the time for one of your silly tricks, Percy."

"It wasn't a trick!" Percy cried. "S-She pushed me! Audrey really pushed me!"

"He's telling the truth!" added Thomas. "I saw it!"

"N-No, that couldn't be it…" Mr. Roberts set Audrey down so he could examine Percy's controls in his cab. "The throttle must be faulty…"

"Blankie..!" Audrey whined, toddling over to where she saw her blanket disappear and knelt down to see if she could grab it. She reached out an arm, but she wasn't able to grab it from where she was at.

"Just a minute, sweetheart! Daddy will get it," Roberts said.

Audrey glanced up at the running plates along Percy's side. Grabbing the edge with her tiny hands, she grunted and pushed upwards with all her might.

Mr. Roberts let out a shout as he was suddenly sent barreling to one side of Percy's cab. Percy let out a similar noise as he was tipped onto one pair of wheels. "M-Mr. Roberts!! Help!"

"What's going on out there?!" Roberts shouted, dodging the pieces of coal and a shovel that slid toward him. Then, as soon as it happened, it was over. Percy was set back on all four wheels, and Mr. Roberts was able to gather himself.

Audrey walked over to Percy's front, clutching her beloved blanket close to her chest. "Be in picture, Percy. Please?"

Percy started wordlessly down at the tiny toddler in front of him. Then he looked over at the other engines. The looks of disbelief on their faces told him everything. Mr. Roberts popped his head out of Percy's cab, immediately spotting his daughter with her blanket back in her grasp. His mind began to race as the realization of what just happened struggled to set in. "That's… That's not possible…"

Percy's eyes were filled with wonder and amazement. People couldn't lift much compared to engines. The fact that little Audrey managed to lift him up, an engine who weighed several tons… a massive grin spread across his face. "Yes… yes, I'll be in the picture, Audrey. I never want to forget this day. For one so small, you've proven just how strong you really are. And I want to be strong for you too. I love you, little sis."

Audrey grinned right back. "I wuv yoo!"

If Percy had a heart like a person, it would have just skipped a beat. His breath got caught in his smokebox, and his eyes started to water a bit. Mr. Roberts completely understood this feeling, the feeling of hearing a child say they love you for the first time. He gave Percy's side a proud pat. The adrenaline from what had just happened was still coursing through his system, but Roberts's mind was immediately switched to another subject once he checked his pocket watch. "Land's sake! If we don't leave now, we'll be late to see the photographer at Knapford! Are you sure you want to do this given your… condition, Percy?"

Percy smiled back. "I'm positive."

"…Very well then." Mr. Roberts looked down at Audrey. "Now what to do about you… I can't take you aboard."

Just then, a little black car drove in and parked near the sheds. Out stepped the photographer. "Is everything alright here? I was waiting at Knapford when Sir Topham Hatt told me about an accident."

"Yes, we're all fine," Roberts smiled. "Is it alright if we take the photo here?"

"Of course!" The photographer said, currently rummaging through the trunk of his car gathering his equipment. When he looked back up, he noticed something wasn't quite right. "Good heavens! That engine is filthy!"

"He's just fine," Roberts quickly replied. "It will make the photo all the more memorable." He shot Percy a smile. Percy smiled back.

"Alright then…" The photographer said mostly to himself. As he set up the camera, Mr. Roberts stared intently at the little toddler in his arms.

"There's just no way. You couldn't have actually done all that… could you?"

Audrey just giggled and hugged her sparkly blanket. Mr. Roberts gave it a once-over. "Have I ever washed this thing? Ugh, it's much dirtier than I remember! This is going in the washing machine when we get home."

"No!" Audrey cried, furiously clenching it to her chest.

"It's just fine," Percy smirked, earning a confused look from his driver. He continued, "It will just make this day all the more memorable."

Roberts sighed and smiled while the engines started a good chuckle. The photographer waved them over. "Alright, you three! Let's get you all in frame here!"

Mr. Roberts sat on Percy's running plate (a section that wasn't completely covered in chocolate) and sat Audrey in his lap. The photographer smiled. "Perfect! The flash will go off in three… two…"

Audrey had noticed a sweet smell when she first came to the sheds. Now that she was closer to Percy, the scent was very strong and quite appetizing too. She looked over and saw the brown substance coating Percy's face. Curious, she leaned over, opened her mouth wide, and pressed it against his cheek while she licked.

"…one!"

"Audrey! What are you-?!"

"Augh! She's eating me!!"

FLASH!

Percy, Mr. Roberts, and Audrey all turned to the source of the flash. The photographer had an amused look on his face. "That will definitely turn out to be one of my most interesting photographs in quite some time!"

"W-Wait wait!" Roberts stuttered. "We can't use that one!"

"Sorry," the man said as he began disassembling the camera, "but unless you want a retake, it will cost you. Film doesn't pay for itself you know. Plus I'm out of time for today."

Roberts sighed. "I don't have enough for another picture. Oh well… maybe some other time. Maybe when you're older," He said, looking over at Audrey who was eagerly eating the chocolate off Percy's face.

"C-Can you get her off now, please?" Percy asked.

"Aww, Percy! That would be like taking candy away from a baby!" Thomas teased.

"If you're not careful, she might just push you right off your wheels!" James smirked. The other engines laughed.

Percy just groaned, looking over at Audrey. As she enjoyed herself, he gave another lick around his mouth. "Well… if I were in her situation, I wouldn't want anyone to stop me either!" He smiled and joined the engines in their laughter.

Mr. Roberts stared at the photo above his fireplace, feeling nostalgia rush over him from that day two years ago. He remembered getting the photo back and the laugh he shared with the other engines. There was Audrey faceplanting herself against Percy's chocolatey face along with her hands while the little engine cringed in surprise with Roberts's own shocked expression beside him as he reached out to try and control his daughter. It felt like yesterday to him, but Audrey had grown up so much in that short span of time.

"Where did the time go?" He wondered aloud. "What happened to my little baby girl?"

"I'm right here!" Came a voice from below him. Audrey clung onto her father's leg.

Mr. Roberts tried his best to swing his leg around much to Audrey's amusement. "What? Noooo…! You're a big girl! A big girl who's starting school tomorrow!"

"I am a big girl!" Audrey smiled. "Can Percy take me?"

"To school?" Roberts asked. "No, dear. We'll be taking Bertie."

"Ooo, the bus!" Audrey let go and started rushing around the room, pretending to turn a steering wheel. "Vrrrrroooooom! Beep beeeeeep!"

Roberts chuckled and turned back on the vacuum cleaner he was holding. "Okay, Miss bus driver! Can you help your father and lift the couch up for me?"

"Okay, Daddy!" Audrey "parked" herself and went over to the front of the couch. Bending down and gripping the bottom, she lifted the whole thing right off the ground and above her head.

Mr. Roberts cleaned the carpet under the couch. "Thanks, sweetheart! You can set it down now. Gently."

Audrey placed the couch back on the floor with a small thud. "I'm a good helper, aren't I, Daddy?"

"Yes you are. You can help more by setting the table for dinner."

Audrey nodded and headed to the kitchen, Roberts watching her as she left. While he was excited that Audrey would be starting school tomorrow, he was just as nervous. He was never quite too sure about letting Audrey play with other kids. She was still learning to control this abnormal strength of hers, and the last thing he wanted was a call from a teacher or a parent telling him about their child getting injured from Audrey playing too 'rough'. It was a good thing she liked to spend time with the steam engines, otherwise she may have become quite reclusive, Roberts thought.

He turned back to the photos above the fireplace, this time focusing on the one of him and his mother. "Look after her, Mum. She needs you… and so do I."

Yes, this is a rewrite of "Percy's Chocolate Crunch" with the Roberts' plopped in! Hope you enjoyed!