Camille, Were Aware Of The Measures Gordon Would Take To Keep You Safe. Would You Do The Same For Him

Camille, we’re aware of the measures Gordon would take to keep you safe. Would you do the same for him if you needed to?

Camille: In a heartbeat. Gordon is such a protector and he’s so big and strong comparative to me though and I’m not sure I would be able to do the same. I would’ve done the same thing for him if it were him out in that blizzard. I would fight tooth and nail for him, he means the absolute world to me. But, I’m small and I’m not nearly as strong. …with this ominous Diesel 10 around if he were to hurt Gordon… I’d lose my mind in a rage. I want him safe… It worries me some days when he’s out on the express so far from the rest of us at times. If it came down to his safety I’d ask him not to shift at all, for us to just be human for a bit and hide. Heck, if things got bad enough… I’d probably ask him to leave for Texas with me. I doubt it’ll come to that though and I sincerely doubt he’d take me up on that.

can we get a drawing of Camille? I just wanna see what her character design looks like.

If you scroll down on my page you’ll see a beautiful image of Gordon and Camille at night by @asktrio516. I’ve also made it the top image for this page. It’s the scene where they’re about to roll down Gordon’s Hill together from Chapter 8: Racing in the Dark. Unfortunately, I’m more of a writer than an artist so all my imagery is used in words. Honestly, I’ve tried to draw and I never feel like it’s quite right. Look under the tag #ttte oc and you’ll find her. 🥰 Hope this helps!

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@pxmun2 cant remember if I did this so I guess I’ll do it again!

Gordon (Thomas and Friends)

Link (Legend of Zelda)

Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney Series)

Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)

Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist)

five comfort characters, five tags

(had to start a new thread, got too long) thanks for tagging me @loulooser ooh i like this okay - nick nelson (osemanverse) - aled last (osemanverse) - peeta mellark (hunger games) - linh song (keeper of the lost cities) - xavier hawthorne (the inheritance games)

tagging @lyssified @mister3127 @raeny-nights-and-faery-lights @weirdo09 @charliethinks

Camille! Are you into Cosplay? If so, what’s your favorite Cosplay? If you could, what would you have Gordon Cosplay with you?

Camille: So I really love the idea of Cosplay and I’ve seen amazing cosplays but I haven’t ever got to do it myself. The railway keeps me fairly busy and even before I came to Sodor I didn’t have time. However, if I could get Gordon to Cosplay-

Gordon: Which you will not.

Camille: -I would have him probably be… Speed Racer from the old Cartoon Network cartoon. It matches him really well.

Gordon: His name sounds a bit on the nose, don’t you think?

Camille: Or… wait! Actually, I would have him be Racer X! The live action remake was such a treat to see and Racer X is one to drool over.

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If you don’t read on Archive, here’s the short here!

A Great Father

Children AU

(Rated G)

Loosely based on a conversation between me and @smol4bluengine on tumblr. Comes before This Son of Mine.

Gordon was panicked.

He looked all around the busy station of Vicarstown, ignoring the odd looks people were giving him. He was supposed to be meeting up with his brother and his nephew any minute now for a playdate followed by a weekend with the whole family. Problem is, you can’t really have a playdate with one kid and his kid was currently missing.

“Erik!” He called, trying not to sound too panicked, but the seconds were beginning to turn to minutes. 5 to be correct.

He looked around the station, there was no sign of the little engine anywhere. Gordon’s heart began to race in his chest. Erik was an adventurous sort of child and was easily distracted. A butterfly could’ve flown nearby and he would’ve gone after it. Gordon had told his son to stay in the break room while he went to go check if Scotsman had arrived and when he’d gotten back, the boy was gone. He first checked the restroom, the little engines were much like human children, but found it empty and began to check all the cupboards and everything he could think of. But Erik was nowhere to be found.

Gordon looked around and had asked a few of the Vicarstown railway workers if they’d seen him, but so far no one had seen anything. He was starting to feel ill. What if he had hopped in one of the many trains and went off somewhere else on the island? What about him getting on the mainland? What if he was on the rails on his own, although he wasn’t wide enough to reach both sides of the rails, he could basically bounce along the rails like a car. Another engine could easily run him over!

What if someone had taken his son?

True fear reached deep in his soul. What if someone had taken Erik? Him, his cousin and his friends were the first of his kind; there might be someone out there that wanted to know the ins and outs of the toddler engines. What if… what if they started taking him apart?

Gordon tried to steady his breathing. Panicking and over-thinking would do him no good. Erik would have screamed and fought… right? Someone would have seen something. A child with grey like skin and engine wheels at his ankles, he would stick out. So then… why hadn’t anyone seen anything?

His thoughts were broken for him as he heard the familiar whistle of The Flying Scotsman pulled into the station. He looked up as the charismatic engine backed into the station. He tried to smile like he wasn’t about to have a full blown panic attack as his nephew, Mikhail, whistled at him from his brother’s cab. Scot’s fireman had to have a tight grip on him as the toddler was about ready to jump from the window.

As soon as the engine stopped, the fireman and driver hopped out with baby in tow while the large two-tendered engine shifted to his human form. Baby Mikhail, or Mikey as was his nickname, eagerly bounced in the fireman’s arms, his little wheels turning as he waited for his dad’s arms. Scot grinned wildly at the little engine, taking him in his arms and tossing him a little up in the air. Mikhail squealed with each toss. His dad rubbed noses with him and held him close. Then he turned to face his brother.

“Gordon!” He grinned brightly.

Gordon waved but the panic was written all over his face.

Scot quickly changed his expression, noticing his brother’s demeanor, “Gordon? What’s wrong?” He placed Mikhail down and the tiny engine blew bubbles at his dad’s feet. Scot looked around, “Where’s Erik?”

“I… I can’t find him.” Gordon confessed and Scot paled, “I went to check if you had arrived, I left him in the break room and told him to stay put, but when I returned… he was gone.”

“Have you called Search and Rescue? Harold?” Scotsman asked, “The faster we do, the faster he’s likely to be found.”

“No! I…” Gordon started and looked away, “I just need to look around… I’m sure he’s here.”

“Gordon… the longer we wait…” Scot started, feeling very uncomfortable with the idea of prolonging search and rescue, “What if he’s on a train to the mainland?”

“I just…if I don’t look for him some more… I…”. Gordon sighed, running a hand through his hair, messing it up from its normal brushed back state, “Camille’s going to kill me…”

Scot looked at his brother with sympathy. Gordon had been incredibly rough on himself since it had been revealed that Camille was pregnant. Of course, they all thought that it had to be some sort of error seeing as engines had never been pregnant before. They had both decided to take on the task of parenthood with building an infant engine, a small engine with which they had both donated small pieces of themselves that had been melted down and turned into major components for the baby’s body.

What neither of them had considered, and why would they considering the fact that it had never happened before, was Camille becoming essentially pregnant with the baby’s soul. It was a shock and a surprise, but basically the baby’s essence grew inside her as its body was built. And although she didn’t go through most everything that a human woman went through, it was incredibly hard on her. Gordon felt responsible for it all. She was the first ever engine to go through something like this, and although Gordon wanted to curse at Lady for what Camille was going through, Camille said she’d do it again in a heartbeat to feel that close to her son. A blessing or a curse, Gordon felt inadequate the entire time. And when the baby’s soul left Camille’s body for its own, Camille had woken up in a panic frightening both herself and her husband. If it wasn’t for the call that their son’s body was beginning to stir and wake up, Camille was beginning to assume the worst and that she had lost the baby entirely.

They had both raced in the middle of the night to the Steamworks where their son's body was completed and waited with bated breath as his tiny eyes began to open and he started to cry. Victor had theorized that just like a human baby feeling out of place outside it’s mothers womb, this baby engine would also feel frightened with his soul outside his mother and inside his own body. Camille immediately edged forward, her buffer gently touching the baby’s but when that didn’t comfort the little one, who was blinking to get his eyes adjusted to the light, she shifted to her human body and held him close to her heart, patting the top of his boiler and rocking him from side to side.

From then on out, Gordon had felt a major shift in responsibility and also a massive shift in feeling like he was inadequate. Camille had carried the baby’s soul and fell into her motherly instincts easily. Gordon, however, had always felt left out of the equation. When he approached Sir Topham Hatt about it, or rather the Conductor had dragged it out of him, the man smiled and said it was normal for a new dad to feel a little left out. He explained that it was normal for baby Erik to feel completely reliant on his mother. She was everything to him for months prior to entering his engine body, but that didn’t mean that the baby wasn’t interested or didn’t love his father. The Controller encouraged Gordon to help with the daily and nightly struggles and so Gordon jumped into his fatherly duties both terrified and readily.

Although Erik didn’t shift immediately to his human form, once he did everything became like taking care of a human toddler. He wanted to try everything and seemed to constantly get himself in some sort of trouble, whether that was putting things in his mouth that he shouldn’t, biting, or climbing his daddy’s desk and nearly toppling over. Gordon found himself, on more than one occasion, wondering how on earth he was going to get the baby to adulthood with how often it felt like he was coming to his rescue. Things were becoming very messy as well, from messy eating to messy diapers. Gordon counted himself lucky that for the most part Erik stayed in his engine form. Though he still had to have his boiler and firebox cleaned often and when the little one wanted to play that became a hassle on its own. There were lots of late nights where both parents rotated rocking and walking with an upset baby. Gordon couldn’t believe how insane it was to have to keep walking even after it seemed like the baby fell asleep. Somehow he knew his father was ready to put him down. Some nights, Gordon even took the little engine outside to just roll around the shed with the doors shut while he tried to catch a few winks.

Little Erik soon was very interested in his father and was curious to see what Gordon did for work shortly after he was able to attend work with his mother, since her work was close to home. That’s what led to today’s event of Gordon taking Erik with him on the Express to meet up with Scot and his new son, born months and months after Erik.

Scot used his foot to scoot Mikhail away from the rails and placed a hand on his older brother’s shoulder, “We’ll find him, Gordon. But if we don’t in the next ten minutes, we need to call search and rescue.”

Gordon nodded, though the sick feeling never left his stomach. He smiled somewhat, beginning to look around the station again, “I.. I don’t know how I can ever look Camille in the eyes knowing I’ve lost our son.” He sneered at himself, trying to make sure Mikhail didn’t see though, “Some father I’m turning out to be..”

“Don’t sell yourself short yet, Gordon. We’ll find him. He can’t have gone too far.” Scot picked up his child and held him close, “Was he in his engine form? Is he good at shifting yet?”

“He was in his human one…and he’s not very good at shifting yet.” Gordon looked around again. “I’ll check the break room again, if you can look around the platforms nearby.”

Scot nodded and went to his break coach where he kept his luggage separately and pulled out the bassinet-like stroller for Mikhail. The little green engine wasn’t too thrilled about being put back in a situation where he couldn’t move around and began to fuss, lip quivering while looking up at his father.

“Hey, little buddy, it’ll be OK.” Scot smiled, pulling out a dummy, “We just need to help Uncle Gordon real quick and then we can go play at the park.” The baby opened his mouth eagerly at the green pacifier and his dad put it in his mouth. With the baby content Scot began to look around, pushing the stroller as he went, looking for his little nephew.

——

Erik began shaking nervously in the train car as he got further and further from Vicarstown. Daddy had gone out of the break room and hadn’t returned for a bit. The little indigo engine had left the room in search of his father when he had heard the announcement for the train going to the animal park and he eagerly hopped aboard. Mommy worked at the animal park and he was scared without his daddy.

He had snuck aboard the cars, there were only two, and was with the passengers luggage. He was hiccuping and crying softly, scared for what was going on.

It wasn’t long before he heard the door open and he looked up at one of the railway workers.

“Erik? What on earth are you doing here?”

Erik had no idea how the human knew his name but they had soft eyes and looked greatly concerned. He shied away nonetheless, whimpering. The coachman knelt down and gently smiled, “It’s OK, Erik. I work with your mommy and daddy’s friend Thomas. That’s who you’re riding with right now.”

Erik still kept his distance, hiding himself beside some luggage. The coachman sighed, but stood back up understanding the child’s fear. He went out and spoke with both Annie and Clarabel, who then spoke to Thomas who pulled over to a side rail.

Erik really began to panic at that point, crying quite audibly. He wasn’t really sure if this was Thomas’s train, he had never been on a train before besides his parents’ own cab. Hearing the footsteps approach made his heart race and he started hiccuping again, but as the door opened and saw Thomas approach him, the sobbing began all over again.

Thomas smiled softly at the crying boy and knelt down, “Erik, how did you get on here? Your daddy is gonna be really worried about you.”

“I wan’ my daddy!!” The little engine cried, reaching out for the familiar engine.

Thomas picked the little engine up and cradled him, “Shhh, little buddy, it’ll be OK. I can get you back to your daddy in a bit, I just have to finish my jobs first.”

The little engine had quickly become a mess of tears and a bit of a runny nose, “I… I… I wan’ my d-daddy…!”

Thomas held him close, shushing him as he bounced him in his arms, “How about I call mommy and let her know where we’re at. She’s closer and we can get you to her, OK?”

Erik looked at Thomas for a few seconds, sniffling and hiccuping, and then nodded.

“Alright.” Thomas said with a smile, “Let me call your mom. She should be available right now.”

——

“Gordon, we have to call Search and Rescue. It’s been almost a full half hour.”

Gordon was in a full panic. No one had seen Erik running around, which meant that he probably did, in fact, board a train. Anyone that had seen him would’ve been on the train as well.

“Gordon!” Scotsman yelled at him, pulling him out of his panic. The younger brother looked him in the eyes, “If he’s on a mainland train now we’re going to be in a worse situation. They could take off in any given direction. Look, I’m gonna call Jess to keep an eye out and she can reach out to a couple of our cousins. You need to call Search and Rescue.”

Gordon nodded almost mindlessly and reached for his cell phone when a call came in. Both him and Scot recognized the ringtone set for Camille.

Gordon took a deep, shaky breath before answering, “Hello.”

“Gordon!” Camille sounded cheerful.

“H-Hello darling.” Gordon said, trying to compose himself.

“I was just calling to see how the play date was going. You promised me pictures and I haven’t seen anything yet. I was beginning to wonder if I had a crappy signal in the park.”

Scotsman looked at his brotherly, gently signaling for him to tell the truth. Gordon cleared his throat, “Well, you see darling, there was a bit of a mishap and that’s why-“

“Mishap? Is everything alright?” Camille cut him off.

“N-no, well, yes actually. Everything is fine. It’s just that…” Scot looked at him wide eyed as if to say ‘What are you doing??’ Gordon quickly glanced down at the sleeping engine in the buggy, “Mikhail fell asleep shortly after getting here so things haven’t worked out as well as we had hoped.”

“Oh, that’s a bummer, but I’m sure Scot’s loving that. It’s hard with a new life, I’m sure you remember.” She said sympathetically.

“Yes, I remember. Sleepless days and nights.” He sighed, bringing a hand up to his eyes to rub his temples. Scot stood next to him with a disapproving frown on his face, arms folded.

“Well, let him know things do get better. I mean, things get more difficult in different ways. Erik has a tendency to wander, I’ve actually thought about putting him on one of those kiddie leashes.” She laughed.

Gordon gave a snort, “I don’t think we should do something like that to our son. Think of his dignity.” Lady above if that isn’t a grand idea though, he thought to himself.

“I know, I know, Gordon. But some days when I’m out and about with him, he just disappears on me. Sure, I’m at the park and I can find him in a minute or two, but it scares the crap out of me! No matter how much I try to tell him he can’t go running off on mommy, it seems to happen all too often.”

Gordon felt bad that he took relief in the fact that his wife was struggling with this too. Although she had lost him for maybe a minute and Gordon was coming up on an hour.

“Oh, hey, I’ve got to go! Thomas is calling me. He’s just coming in from Vicarstown with some passengers and he’s running a bit late. I’ll take to you later, dear! Love you!”

“I love you, too, darling.”

*click*

Scot glared at him, “You’re digging your grave deeper by not telling her the truth.”

Gordon glared back, “I’m doing the best I can by keeping her from panicking.”

“She’s going to find out, Gordon! Sooner or later! And what if something bad has happened?! Is that how you want her to find out?” Scot gestured, but tried to keep his voice down for the sleeping baby.

“If I find him first then there will be no problem.” Gordon said through gritted teeth.

“IF! And if she had done this to you, you would be livid. Like she’s going to be when she finds out you lost him and then didn’t seek help immediately.”

Gordon sighed, “I’m calling Search and Rescue now.”

“Good.” Scot said, dialing his wife, “I hope they have a lot more luck than we are.”

——

When Thomas arrived at the animal park, Camille was pacing by the main gate. She had canceled one of her train rides, offering refunds for those who were meant to ride, explaining that there was a family emergency. She all but ran to the front gate, waiting for Thomas.

When Thomas came to a stop, she ran up to meet him as his driver carried a terrified Erik from the cab. When the toddler saw his mother, his tears started all over.

“Mama!!”

Camille scooped him up from the driver’s arms, “Oh my sweet baby!!” She cradled him close while he cried, “What on earth happened?? You were supposed to be with daddy today!”

When the child didn’t respond, Thomas cleared his throat, “I think I can answer that.”

Camille walked up to the end of the platform and looked at Thomas’s face, “What happened, then?”

“Well, they announced on the PA Speaker that I was going to the animal park from Vicarstown. I don’t know where Gordon was, but I’m gonna guess Erik knew that you worked here and wanted to see you. I don’t think he knew just how far away he was going to be from his dad. Originally, all he wanted was Gordon, but I couldn’t turn around so I figured I’d just hand him off to you.”

Camille bounced the boy as he wrapped both arms around her neck and cried into her shoulder, “But Gordon just told me he had Erik not but a minute before I got on the phone with you. If he’s got a kid, who’s kid is it??”

Thomas sucked in his breath through clenched teeth, “I don’t want to start any trouble, I’m just speculating, but maybe Gordon…lied?”

“But why would he??” Camille asked, her heart rate beginning to come down. However, she slowly felt her anger build.

“Well… maybe he was embarrassed? I mean, it’s not a fun thing to admit you lost your child. Or maybe he didn’t think Erik had gone far and didn’t want you to panic?”

Camille frowned, “But our child could’ve gotten really hurt…. It’s unacceptable.”

“I know that too.” Thomas said gently, “But, we all know how Gordon can get when things get out of his control. He has a really hard time asking for help and if his driver and fireman weren’t there on some occasions I’m sure he never would have.”

The female engine sighed, “He’s just lucky our baby is alright.” Erik looked up at his mother, “But you shouldn’t have run off on daddy. He’s probably worried sick about you right now.”

“Sowwy mama…”

Nevertheless, she hugged her son tight again, patting his hair down from the mess it had become, “We need to call daddy and let him know you’re OK.”

“And fast!” Came a voice from behind.

Thomas’s coachman came running towards the two, “Search and Rescue just got sent out on a call for a missing child at Vicarstown station. I’m pretty sure they’re looking for little Erik here.”

Camille reached for her phone and as she went to call Gordon, his name popped up instead.

“Gordon, I-“

“Camille, I’ve lost Erik.”

Camille’s heart stopped briefly at the words, despite knowing the child was safe and sound. The panic and worry in her husband’s voice saddened her heart though, and she found herself unable at the time to get angry with him.

“I heard about Search and Rescue, but-“

“I’ve looked all over for him, Cam.” Another pang in her chest. Gordon rarely called her by the nickname everyone else had, “I left him in the break room for just a few minutes to check if Scot and Mikhail had arrived and when I returned, he was gone. I shouldn’t have left him alone, I know, and I’m kicking myself for it.”

So that’s what happened. Erik, his little mind easily bored and distractible, left the break room to probably look for his dad, she concluded, and then heard the speaker talk about the animal park and jumped on the train headed there to see his mom.

“Gordon, I-“

“I understand if you’re angry. Scot’s nagging has been awful. I just… I thought I could find him without having to alert anyone or the authorities and I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Gordon, I have him.” She finally got through, “He jumped onto Thomas’s train to the animal park.”

“…He’s safe?”

Camille sighed softly, rubbing the toddler’s back, “He’s safe. But not very happy with himself.”

Erik looked up, showing some interest in the conversation, “Daddy?”

Camille nodded, “Daddy.”

Erik curled in her arms, “…mad?”

Camille put the phone to his ear, “Why don’t you talk to him?”

Erik was quiet for a bit and Gordon, calling for Camille wondering why the phone went silent, was about to hang up when he heard the little voice.

“Daddy…?”

——

“Erik?!” Gordon shouted with relief on the phone. Scot quickly looked up at his brother, who nodded, “Son, you were supposed to stay in the break room.”

“I got scawed…”

Gordon sighed, trying to reign in the bit of aggravation and anger he felt. There was no use getting upset now. He really wanted to get onto his son about the dangers of running away and not listening when his parents tell him something, but right now, he was just relieved his son was on the island, safe and sound with his mother.

“I’m sorry you got scared, son. I wasn’t going to be gone long.”

“It fel’ wike it…”

“You know daddy would never leave you.” Gordon replied. Scot took the hint and took care of informing the others that the child was safely found at the animal park. He was sure there was going to be some comeuppance about raising children though.

“I sowwy…”

Gordon heard his son begin to cry and it poked at his heart.

“You stay with mommy and I’ll come pick you up with Uncle Scot and Mikhail. We can go home and you two can play in the yard. How does that sound?”

Erik sniffled, “Mhm..!”

Gordon sighed with relief, a small smile forming on his face, “Hand the phone back to mama and let me talk with her.”

“Otay…”

“Hey.” Camille said, “I’ll hold onto him until you get here. Be safe, OK?”

“I… I will be.” Gordon responded.

“Hey?” She called out.

“Yes?”

“I still love you, Gordon. Don't beat yourself up.”

Gordon sighed once more, “I’m going to try really, really hard not to.”

——

That evening, back at Tidmouth Manor

All the adult engines were sitting on the back porch of the manor watching as the children played happily together. Mikhail, being the youngest, sat peacefully in a makeshift swing for baby engines as his father pushed him lightly with his foot. Everyone had gathered together and they had decided to have some water and snacks on the back porch while the children played before bedtime.

“Danny! Behave yourself please!” Emily called to her son, who was wildly chasing after an upset Erik.

“Yes, mama…” The little blue engine called, ceasing his chase of Erik who was getting irritable.

The conversation around the table was mainly focused on Mikhail and Scot and Jessica’s adjustment to parenthood, not to mention Jessica’s adjustment of learning how to care for a baby steam engine. Occasionally the baby would babble incoherently at them as if trying to join the conversation. Jessica would smile softly, albeit a bit sleep deprived, at her son and Scot would occasionally babble back at the baby causing squeals of laughter.

Edward hissed a bit as he sat down at the table after a hard days work. James looked at him worriedly, “Everything alright? Is the baby OK?”

“James, I’m fine. I’m just carrying a soul, I’m not really pregnant.” Edward said a bit grumpily, “You’re being much.”

James pouted, “Sorry for worrying about your wellbeing.”

Camille laughed, “I think that about sums up relationships while carrying little souls, wouldn’t you say, Em, Jess?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Emily called.

“Here, here.” Jess said, raising her soda can.

“I was not that bad!” Scot said in mock offense.

“No, you were worse.” Jessica said with a smirk. “I swear I couldn’t go to the bathroom without you at the door worrying about me.”

“Did you get a million texts a day? I certainly did.” Emily laughed too.

“It’s not like we’re actually pregnant.” Camille said, “We’re just carriers of the soul. We don’t have little bodies growing inside us. Not to mention, how on earth would Edward get the baby out?”

“I don’t even want to think about childbirth.” Jessica said, causing some laughter.

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think male engines could even carry, but here I am.” Edward said, “And I’m certainly glad I will not be experiencing labor and delivery.”

“When you feel the soul leave for their body though, it’s an… interesting feeling.” Emily said.

“I freaked out, I won’t lie.” Camille said, looking sheepishly at Gordon.

“If I hadn’t known any better, I would’ve thought she miscarried or someone had shot her.” Gordon said, after taking a sip, “She was crying and yelling and I thought something terrible had happened.”

“It’s not a fun feeling.” Jessica added, “After being with their little presences from months on end and then in a moment they’re gone,” She shook her head and shuddered a bit, “It certainly feels like you’ve lost the baby. It’s like a part of you just vanishes.”

“I was lucky we were going to check on the baby’s building.” Emily put her hand on Thomas’s, “I about came off the rails, but we were already on the way so it wasn’t a panic to get up and head over to the Steamworks.”

“Heavens above, how I wished that had happened.” Scot said, with a bit of a frown, “I missed it. I was in Scotland finishing up my route when I got Jess’s call.” He pretended to hold up his phone, “‘The baby’s coming! The baby’s coming!’ If someone had clocked me I’m sure I would have beat that 100 mile record coming home.”

There was a bit more laughter as Scotsman continued his story of him about causing an accident at the station he was in such a rush.

“I mean, my child was taking his first breath, opening his eyes for the first time and I was ready to run over any engine in my way.”

Jessica chuckled, “You’re here now and let’s be honest, he’s all about his daddy. Almost like he’s forgotten who carried him for almost a full year.”

Scotsman grinned, “Yeah that’s right, isn’t it buddy?” He undid the baby’s buckles and picked him up from the bassinet and held him above his head, making all sorts of noises causing Mikhail to squeal all the more.

“Has he been able to shift yet, Jess?” Camille asked.

Jessica sighed, “No, not yet. But he hasn’t exactly tried.” She smiled at the two as Scotsman tickled the baby’s boiler, “The doctors and builders think he’s just not interested yet. Seeing as he’s still in the range that we’ve seen from just your children” he gestured to Edward, Emily and Camille, “they’re not worried just yet. They think that when he really wants to start playing with us or doing things Scot does, he’ll want to. We just don’t spend a whole lot of time in our human form and that’s probably contributing.”

“That’s fair.” Emily said, “Daniel wasn’t all about shifting for a while either. He would watch Thomas in the yard shunting the trucks and hearing them fuss about it and it made him giggle. So, he enjoyed pretending with his toys that he was biffing and bashing and it took him a while to want to shift.”

“I think Erik shifted so quickly because most of the ‘pregnancy’ I stayed in my human form and I stayed shifted for most of his first few weeks. When I started going back to work and we went to see Gordon a few times is when he started wanting to be in his engine form more.”

Camille glanced over at the two children playing and snapped her fingers, looking stern, “Ah! Ah! Erik! I don’t know what you’ve got, but it doesn’t go in your mouth.”

Gordon quickly looked over and decided to go see what was going on. He walked over to his son and Danny.

Erik quickly threw the toy food down and grinned at his father, “Daddy!” He was practically bouncing, little arms reaching upward and fingers grasping open and shut for his father.

Gordon picked up his son and was quickly enveloped in a hug. Erik squeezed him tight and giggled at his father’s warmth and comfort. Gordon smiled softly and rubbed the little one’s back.

Erik pulled away and looked at his father before briefly looking down, “I sowwy daddy… I didn’ mean to wun away…”

Gordon sighed and looked the toddler engine over. Camille had eventually given him an earful and Sir Topham Hatt kept things from escalating, but deep down Gordon was still kicking himself. He felt like he honestly deserved more yelling and consequences, he had lost his child after all! But in the end, he was becoming his own worst enemy and critic. Despite everything though, he couldn’t stay mad at Erik.

“You gave your mother and I quite a scare today, Erik. You disobeyed me and could’ve gotten seriously hurt.” Gordon scolded.

The little one couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“But, you’re safe and as long as you’ve learned to listen to us I believe everything will turn out alright. Your safety is what matters most to us, son. We don’t know what we’d do without you. Your mother and I love you very much.” He gently pushed back the boy's bangs and kissed his forehead.

Erik looked a bit amazed at his father, “Daddy scawed?”

Though Gordon didn’t like admitting it, he felt that lying to the child was the worse option, “Yes, daddy got scared.”

“Bu’… daddy neva’ scawed.” Was the little reply.

Gordon glanced over at the others. Both Camille and Scot were wrapped up in the conversation and didn’t pay him any mind. His mind went back to all the chaos the three of them had gone through, all the times he either thought or nearly did actually lose them; how much they meant to him. And now with a new life, a thing that had never happened ever before (which seemed to becoming the trend of Sodor steam engines), and all the new blessings and struggles that came with being a father, Gordon realized just how foolhardy he would be to not admit he was afraid.

“Sometimes I do get scared.” Gordon admitted to the toddler.

“Bu’ daddy big and fast and stwong! And bwave!” Erik said, pretending to flex his muscles.

Gordon smirked, “Yes, I am that. But part of being brave is knowing when to admit you’re scared and doing the brave thing anyway.”

Erik looked at his father and then down, “I not bwave…”

“Says who?” Gordon asked a little offended for his son, “You were brave today, son.”

The child shook his head, “I got scawed… and cwied…”

“I’ve cried.” Gordon admitted, though not loud enough for the others to hear, “Your mother has cried before and Uncle Scot has too. Crying has nothing to do with being brave. And as for being scared, you’re still little. You have me and your mother to look for when you’re scared. We’re here to love and protect you, that’s our job. When you’re with us, scared or not, we’ll be there for you.”

Erik looked up in curiosity, “Why?”

“Because I’m your father… I’m your daddy. I’m here for you.” Gordon said with a small smile, “We’re family. We are a part of each other.”

Erik gave a small yawn and snuggled into his dad’s shoulder, “Otay.”

Gordon chuckled at the very simple answer, “OK?”

Erik smiled sleepily, “Yeah. Otay.” Another yawn, “I love you daddy…”

Gordon felt his heart swell with pride, beginning to rock the little engine boy, “I love you too, son.”

——

Gordon had returned to the chatting group moments later with a sleeping Erik in his arms. Daniel had become a bit cranky with it getting late and his friend asleep to where Emily needed to get him to bed. With things getting late, it was time to get the other littles to bed too.

Jessica and Scot were staying in the guest bedroom again, which ended up being Thomas and James’ old rooms moved together to make a bedroom and a bathroom. Little Mikhail wasn’t too thrilled to be going to bed after such excitement either and was becoming fussier by the minute. Scot checked the infant's boiler after a minute of the fussy behavior and it was concluded someone was just overtired. He asked Jess to remind him to thank the others for putting a rocking chair in the bedroom in preparation for the little guy as he sat down with the grumpy engine.

“I hope we don’t keep everyone else awake.” His wife winced as Scot rocked the fussy babe.

“They’ve each gone through this and dealt with one another’s kids.” Scot reminded him and yawned, “They’ll be fine.”

The new build wailed at his father’s attempt at settling him down.

Scot sighed, “Alright, alright, I’m up.” He stood and cradled the little engine, walking and lightly bouncing him. The baby quieted slightly but seemed to still be at odds.

“Are you sure he’s not hungry?” Jessica asked, reaching for the bottle on the side table, “I brought the bottle warmer. It won’t take long to warm the water.”

Scot looked down at the continual fussing baby and sighed in defeat, “Might as well.”

She did just that, plugging in the little device and pouring water into the little steamer before placing the bottle. It was an adjustment for her taking care of an infant steam engine, that was for sure. Had their son been a jet like herself, she felt like things would’ve been easier, but there was a deep sense of pride in these Gresley engines that she somehow felt such adoration for and after everything her husband had gone through during the steam purge, she couldn’t bring herself to ask for the infant to be built after her own kind.

When Mikhaïl let out a particularly strangled cry, Scotsman frowned at the infant, “Now there’s no need for that.”

Jessica chuckled tiredly, “He can’t communicate yet, Scot. It’s got to be hard trying to communicate your needs. Have you checked his firebox?”

Scot opened the tiny door and peeked inside, “He’s fine, love. Just cranky.”

With a little ding, the bottle was ready. Jessica tested the temperature of the water on her wrist before handing the bottle over to her husband.

“You’ve taken care of him all day, Scotty. Sure you don’t want me to take over?”

Scot sat back down with the baby and offered the bottle. Somehow, Mikhaïl will still having none of it, “Jessica, babe, you’ve been flying all over the place for the Duke and Duchess for the past several days and you’ve taken Mikhaïl with you, I can handle one day.”

“Mhm.” The brunette said skeptically, “You're doing so well, right now.”

“Shut up.” Scot teased back and stuck his tongue out, “C’mon little buddy, throw daddy a bone.”

Mikhaïl, whether out of sympathy or frustration, took the bottle, eagerly sucking down the warm water.

“Easy, Scot, too much too quick and he’s going to spit up.” Jessica warned.

Scot removed the bottle nipple from the baby's mouth with a small pop, “Easy, tiger, slow down.” After a bit of whining, he gave the bottle back.

A few more minutes and Mikhaïl had fallen asleep with the bottle in his mouth. Scot replaced it with a binky, which the little engine sucked on sleepily, and tucked the sleeping baby boy into his bassinet. Jessica pulled the bassinet to the edge of the bed, hooking it in place where she could reach her arm out and pat the sleeping baby. Scot curled up behind him and kissed her behind the ear.

“We made a cute kiddo.” The two-tendered engine smiled.

Jessica smiled, “Yes, we sure did.”

As Edward and James were getting ready for bed, their little one, Katie, had managed to sneak from her bed, where she had fallen asleep quite early enough to miss the party, and into her father’s bed with Pebble in her arms. Edward made a light hearted comment about how eventually with a second on the way she was going to have to start staying in her own bed. James, however, snuggled the raven haired little girl close.

“She’s only this little once, Ed. I don’t want to rush it.”

Edward smiled at the two. Katie looked like James and easily acted like him too. There were days that, despite the child not really biologically being theirs, that Edward began to wonder what on earth she inherited from him if anything at all. Katie snuggled into her daddy, James wrapping an arm around her, but rolled over bleary eyed and reached out for Edward.

“Papa?”

Edward smiled and took the littles one's hand, which she did her best to tug him closer. Chuckling, he curled closer, but with enough room for Katie to move around, and sighed contentedly with his little family. His belly glowed a bit, the gold light warming him with the comfort of their new little one’s soul close by. Before he could reach down to feel its warmth he felt James’ hand move from Katie to his stomach. He opened his eyes to see James looking down at the glow, almost teary eyed. He placed a hand over James and closed his eyes again, drifting soundly to sleep.

Emily and Thomas were able to wrangle Daniel into some PJ’s. Thomas, who’s bad habit was riling up the little engine before bed, was propping the little one on his feet and held the toddler’s hands out like they were wings. Danny was all giggles as his dad made plane noises as he moved him from side to side.

Emily rolled her eyes and chuckled, “Alright you two, it’s time for bed.”

“Awww…” Danny pouted as his dad stopped the game and laid him on his little bed.

Thomas chuckled, “Tomorrow’s another day, Dan. You can go play with the others. It’ll be a blast!”

“But you and mama hafta wok...” He pouted.

Emily sat down on the floor next to the bed, “But we won’t be long. You’ll have a great time tomorrow with Grandpa Hatt.”

“Will he bwing tweats?” Danny’s eyes lit up.

Thomas laughed, “Doesn't he always?”

“Mhm!” Danny said, nodding with a yawn.

“Alright, buddy, it’s time for bed.” Thomas ruffled the boys hair before pulling the covers up and climbing off the small bed. “Goodnight, kiddo-pop.”

Danny giggled sleepily at the nickname, “Nigh-nigh daddy. Nigh-nigh mummy.”

Emily fixed the little ones hair and kissed his cheek, “Goodnight baby.”

Down the hall, the remainder of the Gresley family was working their way to bed. Erik had woken up briefly, though regretted it when his mother and father had him brush hair and teeth. The little nap had him wanting to play more and he was bouncing on his parents bed as they got ready for bed.

“Erik, it’s bedtime.” Camille reminded, “Not playtime. We need to wind down.”

Erik whined at his mom’s words, opting to bounce only a little where he thought they wouldn’t hear him.

Gordon looked out the bathroom door at the bed with a firm look, toothbrush in his mouth, “Son.”

Erik sighed and laid down in defeat.

When Gordon returned to the bathroom he spat out his toothpaste and cleaned himself up, “He gets it from you.”

Camille looked at him in a fairly amused agape look, “I know you didn’t just say that.”

Knowing he had gotten under her skin, he dried his face and smirked, “It’s true.”

“No, no, I don’t think so. Last I checked you had him built as a mini Gresley tender engine, not a tank engine. He’s taking after you.” She teased back.

“Well, then he’ll be perfect.” Gordon smiled proudly.

Camille poked at him, “He already is.”

That’s when they heard the TV turn on, though the volume dropped very quickly.

Camille sighed and rolled her eyes, despite the smile on her face. But Gordon was already out the door.

“Frederick! No TV.” He said, earning sad eyes from the little engine, pouting with his full name being used.

“Bu… bu’ daddy…”

“It’s almost an hour past your bedtime, no buts young man.” Gordon turned the TV off and picked up the small engine, “It’s time for bed.”

The little boy went limp dramatically in his father’s arms and said father turned and looked at his wife, “He takes after me, huh?”

Camille giggled and walked up to the two. She brushed some of the hairs out of Erik’s face and kissed his forehead. Erik grinned and reached for his mom with delight. She held him close as she walked to his small bed and knelt down next to it.

“Goodnight my sweet boy.” She kissed the top of his head again, “Pleasant dreams.”

As she laid him in bed and tucked him in, Gordon pressed the knob on a sound machine nearby. It was a gift from Camille’s brothers, the same exact one she had gotten when she was a new engine. Although Gordon had originally teased her about it as she was an engine like him, already an adult with no childhood, the effects it had on their child to get him to sleep quicker was astounding. Now, Gordon never put Erik down without it, he didn’t care about the codependency some talked about as eventually Erik might have to sleep in a shed and noise was always plentiful.

He knelt down next to his son’s bed and softly kissed the boys head. Erik was already droopy eyed and getting cozy.

“Goodnight, my little one.” He said before turning out the bathroom lights that illuminated the room, save Camille’s bedside table lamp. For a while, he sat on the edge of his bed watching as the little one curled into a comfortable position and went to sleep. Camille sat next to him and curled into her spouse.

“You’re a great father, Gordon Gresley. Despite the hiccups.” She smiled.

“I’m just glad he’s safe.” He sighed in relief.

“We’ll talk to him.” Camille said, “Maybe get that kid leash thing.”

“Camille…” he said in a small reprimanding tone, though he still secretly thought it was a grand idea.

“Do you want to go through a day like today again?” She asked.

“….” Gordon sighed, “I’ll think about it.”

She sat up and kissed his cheek, “It’s about time we went to bed too.”

“Yes.” He yawned, “I believe you’re right.”

Both engines curled up in their bed, Gordon laid down facing Camille’s side as she turned off the light. She smiled, as she did almost every night, as he pulled her against him making her the little spoon. His arm wrapped around her, hand over her belly something that had become a habit after her pregnancy.

“Goodnight dear.” She yawned.

“Goodnight, my darling.”

---

Just because I realize I’m really freaking confusing right now.: Sept. 25th for James and Edward’s wedding is the day the actual chapter comes out for their wedding. However, in the actual fanfiction they’re getting married in April. So now I’m thinking to write a short about Gordon’s birthday because it won’t fit in the fanfic. Because Camille is 100% celebrating that.

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