The Midnight Train Crossing

Blanche paced back and forth in front of the roundhouse, looking at her watch. Flare was supposed to have been there hours ago. At this rate it would be too late for them to do much of anything by the time he came. It would be time for her to get to work.
She sighed softly, Where is he? She had wanted to get some shopping done this morning. Suddenly she had an odd thought, what if Angelina had said something? No, she banished that thought, She wouldn't do that, and even if she had, Flare wouldn't listen to her. It wasn't true anyway! < center>
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Further down the tracks from the long tunnel Anbi was rolling along minding her own business when she saw Flare sitting there along side the tracks. She rolled her eyes a bit at the sight of the engine, and started to go another way. She didn't mind him, but she also didn't care to spend much time with him. Then she looked closer, even from here she could see that he was hurt.
She turned on her hind wheels and took off in the other direction, heading for the diner where her mother was working today.

Anbi burst into the diner, "MOM!"
Angelina looked up from where she was kneading bread, "Not so loud Anbi."
"but-" Anbi panted, "You gotta come!"
Angelina pulled her hands out of the dough, "What is it?"
"It's... it's Flare... he looks hurt!" Anbi panted.
Angelina's expression changed and she followed her daughter out down the tracks towards the tunnel.
"What was Flare doing over here? He knows that he can't manage this tunnel..." the bakery coach was mumbling.
"Over there..." Anbi pointed.

She skated over to Flare, setting a hand on his shoulder, "Flare, honey, are you alright?"
He winced and then blushed a bit, this was the second time that she had had to rescue him in the last two days.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He didn't really want to tell her, but he had to, "One of my panels..." he said softly, "That's the main thing..."
"And an assortment of other dents and bruises..." she commented, "What happened?"
"I was...um..." he coughed, a bit embarrassed.
"What happened to you Flare?" she asked sternly.
Flare looked over at his damaged solar panel despondently, "Nothing really..." He tried, fairly certain that Angelina wouldn't buy that
"Uh huh, sure..." she said, "well then, how did you come to be like this?"
Flare looked off at the tunnel, "Last thing I remember I was um..." He paused, "Chasing Slick." He mumbled
"Why in Starlight's name were you doing that?"
Flare shrugged evasively
"Flare..." she said warningly.
"He said some stuff about Blanche
"Oh?"
"He was talking about her as if she was some sort of a slut..."
"I see..." Angelina said shortly, "Can you get up?"
"Um..." Flare paused, "Not exactly.."

Angelina sighed softly, considering, "well we've gotta get you fixed..."
Flare growled, more out of humiliation than anger, "Yeah... I guess so." he attempted to stumble to his feet.
Angelina watched him carefully, getting ready to help if she had to.
Flare managed to get to his feet, "And I was supposed to be meeting Blanche this morning... it's probably to late now though." In all honesty he had no idea how long he had been out.
"Don't worry about that..." Angelina said.
"She gets annoyed when I'm late..." It seemed strange to Flare that he had just busted a solar panel, and still Blanche was the only thing on his mind
"I'm sure that she'll understand..."
"Hopefully." Flare tried to take a step, swaying dizzily
Angelina rushed over to him and steadied him.
Flare blushed
"Come on now," Angelina said gently, leading him down the tracks.
Flare followed, suitably humiliated. It was embarrassing enough to have to have Angelina's help during a rainstorm. This was in bright sunlight

"There you are!" a very familiar voice called from some distance down the tracks.
Flare cringed, as he saw Blanche in the distance. He backed away from Angelina unsteadily, hoping that somehow he could make it down the tracks on his own.
Blanche skated over and Angelina did not look very pleased with the sudden change in Flare.
Flare smiled at Blanche, fighting to simply stay upright. "Hey... sorry I was late..." he said lamely.
Blanche's expression changed as she saw Flare more closely.
Flare slowly made his way towards her. He was swaying a bit, but at least he was still standing. He saw the expression on her face, "I-- think we might have to forgo the shopping for today." He said softly
"Yeah...Flare what happened?"
"Nothing... really." He said quickly, "Nothing you have to worry about. I'll be fine in a bit."
"Are you sure?" Blanche didn't look convinced
"Hopefully." He said, mentally wishing she would leave so he could quietly collapse on the tracks somewhere
"Maybe we should get you to the repair truck."
"That was my plan..." He glanced back at Angelina.
She nodded, "Yes, come on Flare."
Flare followed her wordlessly, close, but still making a point of moving on his own.
Blanche followed along behind them.
Flare sighed exhaustedly. He didn't think he could keep going much longer at all, but he had to.

Angelina knocked on the door of the house of the repair truck.
Flare sat down on the ground, no longer really caring what Blanche thought. It could be worse.
Ruby sighed from inside her house, glancing out the window.
Blanche hesitated and then skated over to Flare, setting a hand on his shoulder, "Is it bad?" she asked softly.
Flare sighed tiredly. He wished more than anything he could just go to sleep... but not quite

"Ruby?" a deep voice called, "Who's knocking?"
"I'm checking, I'm checking". The repair truck's voice was scratchy and impatient.
"Good girl..."
Ruby's blood red lips spread into a rare and short-lived smile at her master's praise.

When she swung the door open however, her face was fixed in it's usual perpetually annoyed scowl. The solar engine was sitting on the ground, Angelina and Blanche on either side of him. Even with out examining him closely, she could tell he was in a very bad way.
She sighed, "What do you want?" She asked impatiently
"We could use some help," Angelina started.
"I figured as much." Ruby said, making no move to help them
"Yes," Angelina nodded, "Flare...well he had a bit of an accident, and seeing as how you are the only car around here with enough skill and the abilities to help us, naturally I thought that we should bring him to you in hopes that you would take time out of your very busy schedule to help us."
"Ah..." Ruby bent down to examine Flare, more interested in seeing how he worked than fixing him really. She took his solar panel in her hand, not to gently at all.
Flare flinched, as a bolt of pain shot up through him.
"This is interesting." The repair truck commented, more to herself than anyone else
"This is a stupid question to ask to one of such great skill..." Angelina started, "but I'm afraid that I cannot convince myself not to ask it."
"Hmmm?"
"Can you fix him?"
"What do I get out of the deal?"

At just that moment the door opened and a very tall electric engine in bright green appeared in the door way.
Ruby didn't notice right away, she was far to busy fiddling with Flare's solar panel.
Flare however did notice. He didn't mind Fuse so much as some of the other engines, as he generally left him alone, but he certainly didn't appreciate having him see him like this
"What is going on out here?" Fuse asked, not upset, just puzzled and a bit amused sounding.
"A bunch of people came." Was Ruby's only response. She grinned up at him, turning so she was nearly sitting on top of Flare. The solar engine let out a groan
"I can see that Ruby..." Fuse said mildly, "Why are they here?"
"Well, look at him! It's either here, or back to the trash heap where he belongs anyway..."

Fuse walked over to his component and raised her to her wheels.
Ruby found herself standing face to face with her engine, "Yes Master?" She purred
He led her a bit away from the others, "Ruby, my dear, you are the only repair truck in this yard, and I was asked if I would allow your services to be available to other engines..."
"Ah... and they *are* When I want them to be..."
He tightened his grip, just a little, "when you want them to be?"
Ruby tried to shrink away, "No... not at all. When you want them to be master."
He smiled, "Good girl. I knew I could count on you."
"Always..." Ruby bowed slightly, and licked her lips, "And... do you recommend my services to the solar engine?"
"Yes."
"Ah..." Ruby glanced back at the engine
"What is it?"
"He's hardly worth repairing." Was all she said, then she skated towards him
Fuse shrugged and followed after her.

She knelt down besides the solar engine. "You, lie down, now." She ordered. She looked at the two coaches near him, "One of you hold him still."
Angelina did so.

Fuse sidled up to Blanche, "You may not want to watch this... it could get messy."
She looked surprised, then nodded.
"Come inside," he offered.
Once again she looked surprised, but followed him.

Flare wordlessly watched Blanche leave, hoping it wouldn't get *too* messy.
Ruby looked at him impatiently, "I said lie down." She crawled up on top of him before he could respond, forcing him to lie straight on his back.
Angelina knelt over Flare, "Easy honey..."
Flare nodded as best he could with Ruby sitting on top of him. "Were you planning on getting off..." He asked, in a strained voice.
She was by no means a nice light little carriage, and it was hard to breath with her on top of him. Ruby didn't move.
"Ground rules..." she started, "Don't scream in my face, don't struggle, and don't ask me to stop because I ain't gonna."
Angelina eased a hand into his and gave him it a squeeze.
Flare just nodded, unable to do much else.
Ruby turned to Angelina, "He's a big engine... you think you can keep him still?"
Angelina nodded, "I think so."
"Doesn't much matter. If you can't, I will." Ruby took out a rather large, sharp looking tool from her toolkit. Her concentration was now completely taken up by Flare's damaged solar panel. She took her tool, making as if to cut it off.
Flare tried to squirm away, "That needs to stay there..." He warned.
Ruby took hold of his throat, momentarily pressing her tool dangerously close to it, "You shut it... I know what I'm doing."
"May I make a suggestion?" Angelina asked softly.
"What?" Ruby growled, without taking her eyes off Flare
Angelina shifted and pulled something out of her bag. She spread one cloth over one of Flare's working solar panels, and then one over the other. She gave Flare a comforting smile.
Flare sighed slightly as the power drained out of him far too fast. He wasn't sure if he liked being left asleep and at the mercy of Ruby, but he also was fairly certain he didn't have much of a choice.
Angelina stroked his hand comfortingly. She'd stay until he was finished.
Flare's eyes closed slowly. The last thing he noticed was Ruby slowly cutting off his solar panel, but by then it was to late to do anything about it
Angelina watched everything, closely.

Ruby slid off Flare, he wasn't going to move now anyway. She got a bottle of something white and sticky out of her tool kit, pouring it over the parts where the solar panel was cracked, with the joy of a child doing an arts and crafts project
Angelina still watched closely.
"It's easier to work with when it's not attached to him." Ruby explained
She nodded, "I see..."
"So, what'd he do? Run into a wall or something?" Ruby asked, with out taking her eyes off the solar panel
"Of a tunnel I think..."
Ruby shrugged. She dropped the panel haphazardly on the ground, crawling back onto of Flare again.
"What are you doing now?"
"I don't know yet."
"Oh."
"He's pretty beat up." Ruby smiled slightly, looking at Flare almost hungrily
"yes I know," Angelina said patiently.
Ruby rolled off of the engine, "Whatever... the little dents will heal themselves." She retrieved the solar panel from the ground, "Just gotta put this right on... he seems very attached to it."
"He is."
"A lot of good it does him."
"When it's attached to him, it does quite a bit of good..."
Ruby rolled her eyes, "Well, it's attached to him now."
She got up off Flare, dusting herself off, "Get him out of here... and take the other little tramp with you to." She headed back towards the door, without a second thought

Angelina uncovered Flare's solar panels and dragged him forward a bit out into the sunlight.
Flare shot up into a sitting position, much faster than he should have, the memory of Ruby coming to cut off his solar panel still fresh in his mind.
"Shh..." Angelina soothed.
Flare found himself leaning against Angelina, still unable to do much else
"There now..." Angelina soothed, "Wait until you're powered up again..."
Flare nodded, relaxing slowly, "Is it still there?" he asked
"Yes honey..."
Flare sighed, "Okay... yes... I can feel it now." His solar panel throbbed, uncomfortably soar, but he could feel it soaking up life giving sunlight

In the house, in Fuse's living room, he and Blanche were talking.
"So..." Blanche said her voice automatically taking on the flirtatious tone it always did when she was around an attractive engine
Fuse smiled softly, "so."
"We might be here for awhile." Blanche said with a wink
"It would seem so," he said, getting up and moving over to her, "I hope that I can make your stay in my house a bit...more pleasant."
"Well.." Blanche moved a bit closer to him, "Sleepers are always pleasant guests."
"I've heard so," Fuse said, reaching out a hand and dimming the lights.
Blanche skated away playfully, "Especially at night." She said, looking towards the door meaningfully. It wouldn't do to have Flare coming in, or worse yet Ruby
"Oh. I see."
"Now tell me...
Blanche started, "Don't you have a coach?" Her voice indicated that she would gladly entertain him regardless
"Only Ruby... my component," he put a bit of emphasis on the last word.
"She's very...." Blanche trailed off, searching for the right word, "fond of you."
"As she should be..."
"Yes... I suppose"
Fuse nodded, "But I am quite interested in... hmm... entertaining new options..."
"Who were you planning on taking out tonight?"
Fuse smiled at the sleeper, "If you are interested my dear..."
"It depends... Is Ruby going to take good care of my friend? I don't think I could bare to go out otherwise..."
He nodded, "How...close of a friend is he?"
Blanche fluttered her lashes slightly, moving so her body was pressed against Fuse's, "Not this close. But close enough so I don't want to see him hurt."
"Ah, I see, well I am sure that Ruby will repair him."
"I expect she will." She smiled, slowly looping an arm around him.
He nodded and leaned down towards her.

There was the sound of the door slamming.
Ruby stood at the doorway, a bemused look on her face. "I've finished my task master." she sneered, "Looks like you're just starting yours."
Fuse looked up at Ruby, pulling away from Blanche and skating over to his component. "well done."
Blanche made as if to go out the door.
Ruby raised an eyebrow at Fuse
Fuse ignored the sleeper and skated over to his component. "I trust that it was no trouble then?"
"No. Not at all. The solar engine is a surprisingly calm patient when made to be." Ruby glared back at Blanche, who was standing at the doorway as if waiting for something
"good," he said, "I would hate for you to go through any undue difficulties," the engine purred, his hypnotic eyes meeting Ruby's.
Ruby cocked her head to the side. "Oh, really?" She skated a way a few inches
Fuse nodded, "After all, I only lend you out to the other trains."
"Ah... I wasn't aware you were also lending yourself out to other coaches." She glanced back at Blanche meaningfully
"As I said, only lending," he said, "You, however, are mine."
Ruby's face twisted in anger, "Well the sleeper isn't! Make the little whore leave!"

Fuse's normally placid expression changed a bit, just for a second, showing how very bad electric engines are at controlling their feelings.
Ruby skated off a few feet, standing with her hands on her hips. She glared at Fuse, waiting for him to send Blanche out.
Blanche decided this might be a good time to go. "I'm.. a.. going out to check on Flare..." She said softly
"Good," Fuse said absently.
Blanche left quickly, making a point of batting her eyelashes at the electric before leaving.

Ruby watched her go, feeling as if she might be sick. "I leave you alone for fifteen minutes..."
"You, my dear, need to sit down," Fuse said softly.
Ruby stood right where she was, "and you... you... well, you need to go soak your head in a puddle!" She turned around so she wasn't facing him, as a single tear rolled down her pale cheek
He crossed his arms, "Ruby. One more chance..." he said warningly.
"I don't see why you have to try and couple with every coach that walks in this door." Ruby said, her voice clearly strained. She still didn't move, or turn to face him
"That is my business!" he did not sound pleased, at all.
"But..." Ruby started to walk, more run away. "arrogant bastard" she muttered under her breath

Fuse looked down at his hands, in which quite a bit of electricity had gathered. He glared after his component and threw out a magnetic line, reeling her in.
Ruby let out a surprised squeak, and quickly found herself pressed backwards up against Fuse
Fuse reached out and put took her couplings, sending a small current through her.
Ruby stiffened uncomfortably.
"Now then," he said softly.
Ruby went quiet, relaxing slightly against her engine
He gathered her into his arms, "There now..."
Ruby was silent, scowling up at him
"Easy honey..." he purred.
Ruby crossed her arms, nearly limp against him, but hardly reacting to anything he said.
He pulled her into his arms, not letting her go.

Ruby suddenly turned to him and smiled sweetly, "Master Fuse?"
"Yes?"
Ruby spun around, kicking him in his lower region. Hard.
Fuse gasped and doubled up.
Ruby turned to run out of the room, at top speed
When Fuse was able to move again he saw red.

Ruby quickly glided into her room, and slammed the door shut.
Gasping a bit Fuse glared at no one in particular and then once he had gotten his breath back he started down the hall.
Ruby sat resolutely on her bed. She was convinced she could here him coming towards her. She hoped not
Sparks flew from Fuse's skates as he neared her room.
Ruby quickly got up, and made sure her door was locked. Hopefully he wouldn't feel like breaking down doors today, and that would settle it until he cooled down
Fuse set his hand on her doorknob and turned it. Locked.
"I'm not going to let you in, so you might as well just go." Ruby called through her door.
Heat came from Fuse's hand, making the doorknob glow red hot.
Ruby watched this apprehensively. Not good.
The lock started to melt.
"Leave me the hell alone!" Ruby was starting to sound nervous, despite herself
The melted pieces of the lock fell to the floor.
Ruby started to open her window

Fuse opened the door with a slam, "I wouldn't do that if I were you..."
Ruby looked out her window. It was a fairly long way down.
Fuse threw out a hand and the window slammed closed.
Ruby had to quickly move her hand out of the window to avoid having it close down on her
Fuse threw out a magnetic bolt and turned her around to face him, holding her immobile.
Ruby just stared silently at him, unable to do much else
He slowly pulled her closer.
Ruby glared at him, doing her best to resist. she knew it was pointless, but she didn't feel like making things easy for him.
"Now then," he said in an icy tone.
"What?" She spat, still mostly motionless

He held out his hands, holding a miniature lightning bolt.
Ruby shook her head
He looked up, "What?" he asked in a smooth tone, but his eyes were still hard with anger.
"Don't..." She tried to make this sound like an order, but it came out more pleading
He pulled her closer.
Ruby just shook her head again
Fuse's eyes were hard.
Ruby tried to break out of his magnetic grip
He glared and let the lightning fly.
Ruby let out an involuntary cry of pain as the electricity surged painfully through her, after a few seconds that felt like forever it finally stopped, leaving her limp on the bed.
Fuse regarded her.
Ruby let out a shaky breath, trying her hardest to stop shaking.

"Don't make me do that again," Fuse said.
Ruby looked up at him, and nodded slightly
"Good."
Ruby just nodded, suddenly wanting nothing more than to be close to her engine
Fuse watched her for a few minutes and then released his magnetic hold.
Ruby sat up shakily
He turned and started to go.

"Oh... you're just going to leave like that?" Ruby asked, all but a bit of the anger drained from her tone
Fuse whirled, another lightning bolt in hand.
Ruby rolled her eyes, "I meant that in a good way."
"Oh," he said in an entirely different tone.
Ruby just looked at him, waiting for him to make the first move
The electricity vanished into his hand and he took a step closer to her.
Ruby stood up by her bed, nearly recovered from the shock she had received, but still unsteady at best
Fuse raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"You just shocked me, what do you think?"
He crossed his arms, "Oh?"
Ruby put her arms around him.
"Hmm." He drew her closer.

Angelina winced a bit at the sound of a rather large bolt of electricity.
Blanche raced out the door of the Electric's house. She didn't know what was going on in there, and she didn't want to know
"Are you okay honey?" Angelina said, meeting Blanche as she came out.
Flare also got up, skating over to her protectively. "Yeah... but did you see that?"
"don't ask," Angelina said, "Let's just get out of here."
Blanche made as if to hitch up behind Flare, then paused. "Are you feeling alright now?"
Angelina waited for Flare's answer, but judging from the way he was standing he seemed to be back to full power.
"Definitely" He said, offering both coaches his couplings. Even if he hadn't completely recharged his answer would have been the same. The feeling of Blanche's hands on his couplers was worth it.
Blanche nodded and hitched up, Angelina hitching behind.
"Are... you ready to go home?" he asked Angelina
She caught Blanche's look and nodded, "If you would."
"no problem." The engine turned towards her house, slowly picking up speed as he went

Blanche smiled feeling them go faster. She tightened her grip a bit.
Flare sped up further, proud of himself for being able to pick up speed so quickly. Sometimes he wished he could race, if only to show those other engines a thing or to.... but that would never work. with out the sun he was nothing. They soon arrived at Angelina's house
She unhitched, "Thanks honey."
Flare smiled at her, "seems like I should be thanking you"
"Nah," she said with a smile, vanishing into her house.

Flare watched her go for a moment
Blanche leaned forward and gently stroked his cheek with one finger.
Flare took her hand, "I'm so sorry I was late..." He said in a low voice
"Now that I know why, don't worry about it," she said softly.
Flare smiled almost shyly at her, "I'm glad." He put his hands around her waist, fully expecting her to pull away.
She reached up and stroked his cheek.
Flare just grinned at her, unable to keep from blushing. He bent down as if to kiss her, but stopped short.
She rose up on her toe stops to meet him.
"Is it okay then..."
"Shh..." she said, putting a finger on his lips.
Flare gave her a quick, nervous kiss.

She raised her hands and pulled him closer, holding the back of his neck.
Any shyness Flare might have had died, as he pulled her tighter into his arms
Blanche kissed him deeply.
Flare felt as if he were in heaven, and never wanted to let go of Blanche, ever. He lifted her up slightly, so her feet were just barely above the ground.
Blanche pulled away finally and smiled up at him.
Flare was to stunned to say anything. She had never kissed him... like that before. He was practically seeing little stars and hurts floating in front of his face
"Did you like that?" Blanche purred.
"Yes... of course... how could I not? Your... your beautiful and..." And he was babbling and he knew it
She smiled and stroked his cheek.
Flare slowly turned and took her hands, placing them on his couplers, "Come on..." He said, smiling broadly
Blanche nodded and grinned.
"I'm sure Angelina would prefer we were somewhere other than her front yard."
"Probably," Blanche said with a smile.
Flare gave her an amused look.
"Go," she said, giving him a slight push.

Flare obediently started forward, quickly. He felt like he was soaring through clouds, with an angel hitched behind him
Blanche gripped his couplings tighter.
Suddenly a thought struck Flare, "Um... where are we supposed to go?" He asked, without slowing down
"That way," Blanche said without hesitation, pointing down a set of not commonly used tracks.
Flare sped up.
"whee!"
"I can go faster.."
"Can you?"
"I think..." Flare looked up at the sun, facing his solar panels so they would take in the most possible power, and then abruptly found himself going faster
Blanche grinned.

Finally he stopped, as he reached the old train tracks.
"This is far enough," Blanche said, unhitching.
Flare backed up a bit, waiting to see what she was going to do now
Blanche looked around, taking in the setting, finally she sat down, "Flare?"
"Yeah..?" he said, sitting next to her, not overly close, but close enough
"I wanted to...tell you..."
"yes?"
"I was really worried about you..."
Flare sighed, "I'm sorry I... made you worried." He said softly
"It's not your fault," Blanche said.
"No... not *really*... but I shouldn't have gone after Slick..." He said, knowing he'd do it a second time if need be
"Yeah..." she scooted over to him, "It doesn't matter what he thinks."
"But what he says... to other engine does matter." He looked at Blanche, taking her sweet little hand in his. He still couldn't believe the way Slick had been talking about her.

She leaned in closer and kissed him on the cheek.
Flare felt a warm blush rising up through his neck.
She kissed around his face, finally coming to his lips.
Flare's eyes widened a bit, and he put his arms tentatively around her back.
Blanche pulled him closer.
Flare ran a hand through her dark hair, and kissed her back.

"We should probably go home," Blanche said sometime later as the sun was just starting to go down.
Flare looked up at the sun a bit worriedly. He hadn't meant to stay out this late, but he was fairly certain he could still make it home. He nodded, "That'd be good."
Blanche nodded and got up, "come on."
Flare stood up, looking down at her. He kissed her cheek lightly, and offered her his couplings.
Blanche looked up.
"we should hurry."
She nodded, "Let's go."
Flare waited for her to hitch up, then sped off. He looked at the sun setting in the distance, both beautiful and terrible
"I can walk home," she said softly, "You should get home before it gets dark."
"are you sure?" Flare asked softly. Most engines would never send a coach to walk home alone, especially with night so close, but he didn't know if he could get both to his house and hers in the time he had
"Yeah I'm sure," she kissed him on the cheek, "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I... wouldn't want anything to happen to you either."
"Nothing will," Blanche said, "go home, I'll be fine, it's not far." She kissed him again, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes... yeah, I'll see you in the morning." Fare reluctantly started off towards his own home
Blanche smiled, watching him and then started down the tracks to her house.

Fuse smiled down at his component.
Ruby quietly rested her head against his chest, all former anger towards him drained from her, at least for the moment
He stroked her hair gently.
"It was good then?" Ruby asked, with her usual slightly creepy smile somewhat softened by a sort of tired calmness
He smiled, "Always is with you."
"Good." Ruby said firmly, closing her eyes.
He kiss the top of her head.
Ruby grinned at the gentle shock of static electricity that went though her as Fuse's lips touched her skin
"It's late," he said softly.
Ruby nodded against him
"We should probably go to sleep..."
"Probably." Ruby muttered, not bothering to move away from him.
"Yeah," he put his arms around her and held her tightly.
Ruby sighed, going limp in his arms... as was usually the case after coupling with Fuse.

He gently eased her down onto the bed.
Ruby opened her eyes momentarily, and smiled at him.
He smiled at her as he set her head on the pillow and pulled up her blankets.
Ruby grinned, and closed her eyes, glad her engine was so nearby
He stroked her hair gently and then pressed his lips against hers.
Ruby kissed him back, firmly at first, but slowly becoming more and more relaxed, until she wasn't kissing back at all.
He smiled at his sleeping component and pulled away.

Blanche was walking home, a smile plastered on her face
Fuse moved down through his house and out onto the tracks, waiting his guest.
Suddenly something struck Blanche. She was supposed to be meeting with Fuse tonight. She sighed slightly. She wanted to, she just felt a little bad about it. She had to pass Fuse's house on her way home anyway, she could just stop in for a second. Besides, Flare had gotten a little something, and this certainly wouldn't hurt him any.

Fuse smiled when he saw Blanche, "Are we still on for tonight?" he asked.
Blanche plastered a smile on her face, and skated up to him. "Of course..." She purred." She backed off slightly, "As long as..."
"As long as?"
Blanche looked towards his house, "What's Ruby up to?"
"Asleep."
"Does she sleep... soundly?"
"Very."
Blanche nodded. "Lets go then." She said simply

"As long as you still want to..."
Blanche sighed, a bit uncertainly
"What is it?" Fuse asked.
"I just... don't know."
"Oh I see," he answered, "well would you like to come in?"
Blanche nodded, and followed him inside
"Have a seat," Fuse said, indicating a chair.
Blanche smoothed down her short velvet skirt, and took a seat on Fuse's chair.
"Would you like something to drink?" he asked.
Blanche nodded, "Yes, please."

Fuse nodded and rolled into the kitchen, "Have things changed since this afternoon?" he asked.
"I'm... not sure." Blanche said a bit dreamily. Then she snapped out of it. "No." She said firmly. "No. Not at all."
"Oh," he skated back into the living room with two glasses in hand, he handed one to Blanche.
Blanche took a quick sip of her drink, then scooted a little closer to Fuse.
Fuse smiled and sat down next to her.
"So... you didn't want me here, just to have a drink with you I assume?"
"I assumed that when I invited you to return tonight, the plans were mutually agreed on..."
Blanche shrugged, "They were."
"Ah, and things haven't changed?"
"I... no."
"Oh," Fuse said, "Alright." He smiled at her.

She looked him over closely. She was sitting just close enough so she could feel his magnetic field, "No. Not at all."
He smiled, and dimmed the lights.
Blanche leaned into him, with a quick kiss, taking control. She felt a small prickly shock run up through her, and backed away slightly, surprised
Fuse raised an eyebrow, "I'll turn it down if you like?" he offered, referring to his electricity.
Blanche shook her head. "No. I wasn't expecting it, but I like it..."
"Oh," he said, pleased.
She moved so that she was sitting in his lap, turned to face him.
Fuse smiled and leaned closer to her.
"I can really feel it now.." She commented, touching her lips to his. This was her first time being with an Electric, and she was finding she liked it quite a lot.
Fuse leaned into the kiss.

The next morning the sun shone brightly as Angelina moved out onto to her porch.
Anbi stepped out besides her, "were you watching out the window last night mom?" The younger coach grinned wickedly
"Anbi!" Angelina scolded, "you shouldn't spy on trains."
"Mom... they were right outside.." She argued
"now listen to my honey, this is very important," Angelina said, leaning down next to her daughter, "if you spy on somebody you gotta make sure that they don't know." She winked.
Anbi giggled, "I wasn't planning on telling them."
"good girl," Angelina said with a grin.

"I've been hearing a lot about the races. There are going to be engines from all over the world!" Anbi said excitedly. "And most of them are going to be racing with the local coaches." She added in a pleading tone.
"I've told you before honey, you're too young."
"Fourteen isn't to young. Jennette was only fifteen when she first raced. She told me so."
"But I am not Jennette's mother," Angelina said, "You can watch the races and you can talk to the coaches and engines that are racing, if they don't mind."
"But what if one of them *wants* to race with me? There aren't to many coaches around, and you wouldn't want them to have to go with the freight..."
"Hmm... we'll see."

"So... if I could find an engine that would race with me, you might let me race?"
"If you find an engine that doesn't already have a partner and can't find anyone else, and wants you then I might let you race."
Anbi nodded, not exactly satisfied, but at least that was better than no.
"They'll probably be starting the preparations for the race," Angelina said.
Anbi nodded, "How soon are the engines going to get here?"
"The international ones will come probably the day before... but those from around here will be starting training soon."
"Ah... I'll bet Slick is racing, and Fuse and... maybe some of the other diesels?"
She nodded.
"So... Fuse will be with Ruby... and Slick will probably take Blanche unless she decides she wants to go with one of the nationals..."
She shrugged, "I suppose so. It's up to her."
"Maybe she'll talk to one of the other nationals for me.."
Angelina sighed softly.
"Blanche is good at that sort of thing. All the engine's listen to her."

"I know, I just still don't like the idea of you racing yet..."
Anbi sighed, "What's the worst that could happen?"
Angelina smiled, "I'm your mother, I worry. That's my job."
Anbi rolled her eyes, "I know... but trust me. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, but that doesn't stop me from worrying."
Anbi sighed, realizing she just wasn't going to win this