The Midnight Train Crossing

An incoming train rolled into AV.
Rusty looked up from whatever he had been doing and watched it come in.
CB spotted Rusty and as the engine came to a halt, said good-bye to a coach and unhitched. He had returned from Hilton with a backpack of things from his 'safe box.'
"Hi CB!" Rusty called
"Hey Rusty!" The caboose skated over to the young steamer.
"You here now?" Rusty asked, "I mean... to stay?"
CB nodded. "I'm finally free!" Okay so maybe he was being a bit dramatic, but the caboose didn't see it that way.
Rusty laughed
"Well, you'd feel the same way after ten years!" CB took it good-naturedly however and laughed as well.
Rusty grinned and turned around, "C'mon, I'll take you home."
"Home...I like the sound of that." He took Rusty's couplers.
Rusty grinned and pulled the caboose towards his -- their house
The reality slowly sunk in as the two approached the house. He'd never have to leave...ever. This was not some foster home, but *his* family.
Rusty fumbled for his housekeys
As Rusty did so, it gave CB another chance to look around with his eyes.

"Ah ha," Rusty opened the front door
He looked back ahead. "having some problems?" he joked.
"Nah, just got too many keys," Rusty said cheerfully, pulling CB into the house.
CB just shook his head. He didn't feel intimidated with Rusty like he remember he had around Oilslick. maybe it was the steamers easy nature.
"Alright," Rusty said, "how about the grand tour?"
"sounds good to me!"
"Okay, well this is the living room obviously," Rusty said.
The caboose chuckled slightly. "Obviously."
"And the kitchen is over here," Rusty continued his tour, "And the dining room where dining rarely takes place."
"unless there's company staying over for dinner," CB added. in one foster home, there had been a *lot* of that
"Yeah," Rusty agreed, "Although usually it acts as Poppa's office."
"Guess it could be used like that."
"Yeah," Rusty said, continuing down the hallway, "Bathroom is the first door, then that's my room, the furthest one down is Poppa and Belle's..."
He gave a nod at each.
"And this room..." he paused at the door across from his.
"yeah?"
Rusty opened the door dramatically, "Is yours."
"Mine..." CB entered slowly.

"They haven't done much with it yet," Rusty explained, "Belle thought you should have some say in what you have in your room."
CB grinned again. A room to call his *own*. "I don't know what to do with it," he joked as he laid his backpack on *his* bed.
Rusty laughed a bit.
"I had to share with one other *always* at Hilton."
"Well here you've got your own room," Rusty said, "They thought it would be easier."
"Much..."
Rusty smiled
He looked around his room again and then started to unpack his backpack. amongst his clothes was a box, wrapped up carefully amongst them.
"What's that?" Rusty asked.
"Just some things they handed me before I got back on the train to come here. Don't really know what's in it...haven't looked..."
"Ah," Rusty said
"wanna look with me?" the 'boose asked.
"Alright," Rusty said, sitting down on the bed.
CB sat down as well and opened the box slowly. The lid finally came off and CB gasped as he saw the photos that littered the top.
"Your parents?" Rusty guessed
CB took one off the top, most likely the wedding photo. His mother was already big around the middle. CB nodded.
"So that must have been my aunt..." Rusty said softly.
"Belle was right....I *do* have my mom's eyes....." He couldn't take his eyes off that picture.
Rusty looked at the photo closely as well
his eyes went to his mother's stomach. That could only be one in there...
"She looks kinda like Belle," Rusty said
CB nodded. "Yeah...." he said quietly.
Rusty fell silent.
CB placed the picture between them both and dug some more.
The caboose ran across another photo. It was his mother and father again, but this time another smaller, red caboose was being held by in his mothers arms.
Rusty smiled slightly
"That's me..." he said with a sad sort of smile.
"Yes," Rusty agreed, "I wonder..."
"Hmm?..." he looked away from the photo for a moment to look at the steamer.
"I wonder why you didn't get to see these before...."
"Cuz they were jerks at the orphanage!" Well anyway, that was *CB's* take on things.
"Ah," Rusty said mildly, sensing this wasn't a subject he should bring up.

he put that picture between them and rummaged deeper, coming upon an envelope. He looked at it. "Hey Rusty...isn't the address on this house?...."
He looked at it, "Yeah... it is."
"and....it's addressed to Belle...look..." He gave it to the steamer. CB had felt something else.
"Hmm," Rusty took the letter.
CB then pulled out a chain with ID tags. "Whoa! Cool!"
"What are those?"
He looked. "They appear to be...an ID of some sort....see, here's the name!"
Rusty looked at it, "RC?" he read.
CB shrugged. "Gotta be my father, though I wonder why he'd have them?"
"I dunno, no one I know has anything like that..."
"Think Poppa'd know?.."
Rusty nodded, "Maybe, yeah."
"I also wonder what's in the letter...though it's addressed to Belle....." CB knew it wasn't right to read another person's mail.
"Maybe after she'll read it she'll tell us," Rusty said.
He nodded. "Let's go find them! I'm curious!"
"Okay," Rusty said, handing CB the letter, "You hang on to that."
"Okay." CB then put what he had taken out back in the box. He thought that maybe Belle would like to see as well.
Rusty waited until CB was set.
He stood, box under his arm, tags and envelope in hand. "Let's go."
"Alright, let's see if we can find them."
He followed Rusty out.
Rusty headed out of the house and down the tracks.
CB kept his eyes open.

Rusty whistled loudly.
CB was taken by surprise at first. He'd have to get used to that again.
The steamer pulled CB around the yard, whistling occasionally.
"There they are!" CB said, pointing.
Rusty whistled and Poppa answered back.
"Hey Poppa! Hey Belle!" CB called.
"Hi there," Belle called back, "We didn't know you'd come in yet."
"Yep! I'm here! Got somethin' to show ya two too!"
"Oh?" Poppa pulled up along side of Rusty.
"Yeah."
"What?"
"They gave me this box just before I left. Found these in there." He held up the tags.
Poppa took them to look closer.
"do you know what they are?"
"Yes," he said, "At least, I think so."
"What?" he asked. Then CB turned to Belle "got something for you too..."
"Yeah?" Belle asked.
He handed her the envelope. "yeah..."
She smiled at him and glanced at the envelope, and then her eyes widened
The caboose noticed the reaction. He then turned back to Poppa, still waiting for an answer.
"On some freight runs in dangerous places, all of the cars wear id tags," Poppa said, "In case... something happens."
CB blinked, looking at the tags in Poppa's hands silently.
"They usually wear them in mountain runs..." Poppa said, "Like carting rubble and things away," he handed CB the tags, "Important work for a caboose."
CB took the tags silently back, simply looking at them. He felt a bit of pride for his father...doing dangerous work like that.
"With long freight trains in high steep places, the caboose is nearly as important as the engine."
A small smile crossed his face as Poppa spoke. His father was obviously brave to be doing that sort of work....knowing the risks.
Poppa gave CB a smile
The caboose squeezed the tags in his hand a moment before slipping them over his head and tucking them under his shirt. There they would stay, close.
Poppa set a hand on CB's shoulder affectionately.
CB then looked to Belle, not minding Poppa's hand. He wanted to know what the letter said.

Rusty had gone over to the sleeper, who was sitting on a convenient bench holding the opened envelope and several sheets of paper.
"what's it say Belle?" he asked.
She looked up, tears glistened in her eyes
The caboose moved from Poppa and slowly skated over to the sleeper, seeing the glisten.
"It's.... from Lily," Belle said
CB skated over to the opposite side of Rusty.
"My sister," Belle said, "Your mom..."
"What my mom say?....when did she write it?...."
"She wrote it before the crash..."
He blinked. 'and...what does she say?"
"She says..." Belle trailed off, "Let's go home and I'll tell you there."
"All right..."
Poppa rolled over to Belle, looking a bit concerned. She put the letter away in where ever she carries stuff and hitched up to him.
CB hitched up to Rusty, deep blue eyes still on Belle.
Rusty took Belle's couplings and Poppa pulled them all back to the house
CB could understand Belle's reactions but, he wanted to know what his mother had written.

They headed inside and all sat down in the living room before Belle pulled out the letter again
CB watched Belle
"Alright," she took out the letter to read it
CB became silent.
Belle started to read the letter, "I suppose you are wondering what became of me, and I can't really blame you, since I haven't written in such a long time... I have so much to tell you and I hardly know where to begin..."
"So much has happened in my life... and now... I wish that you had been part of it from the beginning. It sounds silly, but I never told you because... I was afraid. Yes I know - me? Afraid? Sounds odd, but it was true."
CB listened closely, opening his eyes once in a while in case they might mistake him for being asleep.
"I guess there is no way to say it but just to say it: I got married. I am sorry that I didn't tell you before."
"His name is Ryan, although I think you might know him better as RC-" Belle trailed off and started laughing slightly.
The caboose opened his eyes and blinked at this, his hand went to the id tags under his shirt at the mention of his father's name.
"And now I'll pause and wait for you to finish going off on me," Belle continued to read.
CB's hand went to the id tags under his shirt at the mention of his father's name.
"I..." Belle took a breath and started again, "I wish that you could have come to my wedding, even though I know it's my own fault that you didn't. I also..." Belle trailed off.
"I also... have..." Belle brushed her eyes again, "I also have a beautiful little boy caboose."
CB gave a very small smile at the mention of him.
"He is... about a year younger then your Rusty I guess," Belle continued to read, "He has lovely blue eyes and blonde hair. We have named him Christopher (Ryan's middle name) Bennit. Although Ryan just calls him CB. He says that CB is a better sounding caboose name."
he made a slight face at his real name and silently agreed with his father's reasoning.
"I have finally left a return address, and I hope that you will write back to me." Belle was having a harder time reading.
the caboose swallowed himself, hearing Belle get choked up.
She passed the letter over to Poppa, who continued reading, "If we are all welcome at home I would love to come. Please write back to me. I miss you all very much. And also, if you will have it, I would like to you be CB's godmother."
CB dried his own eyes, acting like there was something in them.

Belle suddenly gathered both Rusty and CB into her arms and hugged them tightly.
Now out of Rusty’s vision, CB let silent tears fall onto Belle's shoulder for a moment.
Belle held them both tightly.
he dried his tears quickly, still against Belle.
Rusty wiggled a bit, but Belle didn't release him quite yet
CB wiggled slightly.
Belle finally let the two go
the caboose's eyes were slightly red and his face slightly tearstained.
Belle leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead
"Belle?....." he started quietly opening the box and taking out both the wedding photo and the one of him as a tiny 'booslet.
She looked at the pictures
"was wondering if you'd have anything to frame these with..."
"Yes," she said softly.
He then motioned to the box. "brought this too...thought ya might wanna look....but if the letter did that to you..."
"No," Belle said, "I want to see."
He nodded and handed her the opened box.
Belle pulled out a small box and opened it
CB leaned in.
"Look," she turned the box so he could see two golden rings inside.
The caboose lifted a hand, waning to touch the rings...but hesitated to do so.
"It's alright," she said with a slight smile, "Go ahead."
He slowly fingered each of the bands.
"They must be your parents' wedding rings."
CB nodded slowly.
She picked up another box and pulled out a thin gold necklace with a flower shaped charm.
"That's pretty..."
"It was Lily's..."
"Can I?..." he had seen jewelry before of course...just never felt such a closeness to it.
She placed it in his hand.
CB slipped his hands around as if he were holding some precious jewel. Once he had it, the caboose opened his hands and held the necklace in the cup he formed with them.
"I gave it to her on her sixteenth birthday," Belle said softly.
"It's pretty..."
Belle nodded.
he then remembered seeing it in both the pictures he had looked at. "She wear it all the time after?" he asked.
"Yeah," Belle said, "She did."

CB looked back at the pictures and couldn't help but smiling along with them. They looked so happy together.
Belle smiled at the caboose.
Maybe it was a good thing they had gone together..... his thoughts were interrupted by Belle again as she pulled out a small book from the box.
"Here are some more pictures," she said, showing him the small photo album
He looked over Belle's arm at the photos.
She flipped through them slowly.
CB saw an engine and coach he didn't recognize. "Who are they?"
"My parents."
"So that would make them my..."
"Grandparents."
"Grandparents..."
She nodded
"they alive yet?"
"Yeah, but they retired and moved to a museum a ways away."
"We visit them sometime," Rusty put in.
"Cool!"
Belle nodded.
"Think they'd wanna meet me?......"
"Oh I'm sure they would," Belle said
He gave a slow grin and looked back down at the picture of his grandparents. "All this family I never knew I had."
"Yeah," Belle said with a bit of a sigh
"The letter hints that....ya may have met my dad at least once....what was he like?..."
"I didn't know him that well," Belle started.
he gave a nod. "What can you tell me of him.....that you know?...."
"He seemed nice enough I guess," Belle said, "But you must remember, when I met him I was still under the impression that the only person that a coach should be interested in was a steamer..." she smiled at Poppa, "Of course, I was a bit more interested in my own engine..."
CB gave a slight smile.
"And he was more interested in Lily then in me."
He nodded.
She shrugged, "I'm afraid that I don't know all that much more about him."
The caboose looked to Poppa. "Don't s'pose you know any more, do ya?" Maybe being an engine instead of a coach, Poppa had a different few on it.
"I know he was a hard worker - most of the time," he said.
CB grinned. Wasn't much to go on, but if he looked the caboose was *sure* he could find more out.
Poppa nodded, "but I'm sure if we look around we can find out more."
"I'd like that..."
Poppa nodded, "I'll see what I can dig up."
"Thanks."
Poppa smiled and stood up, "Well I've got to be getting back to work."
CB gave a nod. "Thanks for the info on the tags. They're not leavin' my neck now."
Poppa smiled, "I'm sure your father would be glad to be remembered."
"I hope so."
"I'm sure of it," Poppa said, "I mean, who wouldn't?"
"Yeah."

Poppa grinned, "Alright I must depart, I will see all of you later." He ruffled Rusty's hair as he passed.
"Gah," Rusty protested, adjusting his headband.
CB snickered slightly, though by no means meanly.
"Why does *everybody* like to do that?" Rusty asked no one in particular running his hands through his reddish brown hair
"that's one thing I'm glad about.." the caboose said with a chuckle.
"Oh?" Belle said with a slight smile.
Rusty got up and bolted across the room just as Belle tackled CB.
"Gah!" CB cried though there was a mixture of a laugh in there somewhere.
"So, is CB ticklish?" she asked, "I think that I ought to find out..."
"I ain't ticklish!" the caboose protested.
"Hmm...." she started to tickle him.
"No!" he cried trying to fight back a laugh. "No-o!"
Belle persisted.
No! Stop!" he chuckled. "I ain't t-t-tickle..." He couldn't et the word out.
Belle continued to tickle him.
"Ga-ha!" he cried. "Belle no!" he continued to laugh and squirm.
Rusty smirked slightly as he watched this, glad that Belle wasn't doing this to *him* for once.
CB continued to squirm, trying to get away.
Eventually, Belle let him go
"That was no fair!" Though it was clear CB hadn't minded.
"Well I had to find out," Belle said innocently, "It's an important thing for me to know."
He crossed his arms. "I'll be ready next time."
"Oh?"
"Better believe it!"
She smiled, "Well see."
he raised a brow.
Belle just smiled at him sweetly, "Rusty knows."
"Ya won' catch me off guard again."
"Mm," was all that Belle said
"Ya doubt me?"
"Oh no," Belle said, "I just think you don't know me very well yet."
"this red 'boose don't make the same mistake twice," he challenged.
"hmm," she said, "Well that's a good policy to have."
"It's true."
Belle nodded.

CB picked up his box of stuff. "Guess I better put this in a safe place...want any pictures or anything from it Belle?"
"Yes," she said absently, "I'll find some frames for the pictures you wanted..."
"all right.."
"and let me know if you'll be needing anything else," she said, "For your room I mean."
"All right...thanks."
Belle nodded, heading into the kitchen.
CB stood, taking the box in his hand. He turned to Rusty. "Wonder what sorta things Poppa'll find out about my father…"
"I dunno," Rusty said, "Probably where he worked and stuff."
"yeah, then he could contact them and get some more."
"Yup."
He started to head back to his room.
Rusty headed to his own room across the hall

The next morning, sun shown through his window and woke the boose up. "that's the first thing I'm gonna change..." he muttered sleepily.
There was soft music playing from somewhere in the house.
curious, CB sat up and exited his room in search.
Rusty was in the kitchen eating toast, a radio was playing softly on the table.
"Mornin'..." the caboose muttered sleepily.
"good morning," Rusty said
"The first thing I'm gonna charge are the blinds..." he muttered.
"Huh?"
"How's a 'boose s'posed to sleep with the sun shinning in his eyes?"
Rusty laughed lightly, "You could've closed them last night..."
"Meh..." He shrugged and sat down. Still want to change the color."
"Alright," Rusty said, "You'll have to tell Belle when she wakes up."
He nodded.
Rusty went back to eating
CB grabbed an apple and bit into it. As well as not being a morning person, the caboose was one to eat a huge breakfast either. He normally ate a piece of fruit if anything.

Rusty looked at the clock, "It'll probably be awhile yet ‘til Belle gets up."
"no problem. Just come up with more ways to change my room"
Rusty nodded, "Yeah... Belle um...... likes redecorating."
He raised a brow. "Really? anything ya wanna warn me about?"
"Just don't let her get too carried away."
"Thanks. I'll remember that."
Rusty grinned, "I wanted to redo my room once..."
"what happened?"
"I had to remind Belle that it was *my* room."
he gave a slight chuckle.
"Ah well," Rusty said, "It wasn't *that* bad."
CB shook his head with another chuckle. "Beginning' to wonder what I got myself into.
"A family that cares far too much," Rusty said, half teasing
The caboose grinned. that's not a problem for me at the moment," he replied half meaning it.
"Good," Rusty said, "Just remember that."
CB gave a nod.
"Well," Rusty stood up, "Did you want to do anything?"
"Maybe show me round the yard?"
"Alright," Rusty said, "sounds good."
He stood then.
Rusty headed towards the door, "I'll show you around."
"all right." CB followed.
Rusty led CB out into the yard.
he blinked in the sunlight.
"I think..." Rusty said, "I think we'll go this way."
"Up to you Rusty. Ya know the place better then me at the moment."

Rusty nodded and pulled CB down the tracks
"Where we headin'?" he asked.
"To see if anybody's out," Rusty said, "The coaches that aren't coupled with anybody live in that building over there."
He looked in the direction the steamer pointed.
Rusty went closer to the house

Inside, Ashley was reading and quite interested in the book.
"Hey look," Buffy said, looking out the window, "It's Rusty."
"Rusty?" Ashley put her book away and moved to the window.
"Yup," she said, "With some sort of caboose."
"A caboose? When we'd get a caboose?"
"I dunno," Buffy said, "I'm going to go see."
"I'm coming too."
Buffy nodded and waited at the door for Ashley.
"Hey Rusty!" Buffy called to the steamer

CB looked up as a coach called out.
"Hi Buffy!" Rusty called back, heading over to her
“Hiya Rusty!" Ashley said peeking out over Buffy.
"Hi," Rusty greeted the two coaches, "This is my cousin CB."
The caboose gave a slight wave.
"That's Buffy and Ashley," Rusty introduced the coaches
"hey!" he called.
"didn't know ya had a cousin," Ashley replied.
"I didn't know either," Rusty said, "it's a long story."
"A long lost cousin. Sounds like a story plot to me." Ashley took the cigarette from her mouth and tossed it on the ground, stamping it out with her skate.
Rusty laughed a bit, "yeah, I guess it does."
"Might make a pretty interesting story too...." Ashley said.
"Gonna take up writing then Ash?" Buffy asked
"no, just saying it would. I could never write something worth reading!"
Buffy laughed lightly, "Oh I dunno, your diary is pretty interesting...."
"You!" the smoker playfully hit Buffy. "That's private!"
Buffy giggled
CB made a note to hide *his* diary well.
"But I'm sure that Rusty writes a more interesting one," Buffy said, rolling over to the steamer
Ashley gave a slight chuckle. "yes... wonder what *he* would write..."
"Well you'll never know," Rusty said, "'Cause I don't keep one."
"aw c'mon Rusty. With all your dreaming you must!"
He shook his head.
"I know what it is! you don't want us to know you have one so you're denying it!"
"Now why would I try and hide it from you?"
Ashley looked to Buffy and grinned. "Because *she'd* find it."
"me?" Buffy looked innocent
"Yes *you*!" she giggled giving the buffet car a poke.
She jumped and went to hide behind Rusty.
"Oh sure *now* hide behind a big, strong engine."
Buffy grinned.
She gave a pout. CB chuckled.
Buffy rested her head against Rusty's shoulder, "He'll protect me."
"No fair! Your *my* protector Rusty!"
(CB rather liked these two coaches.)
"Can't I protect you both?" Rusty asked
Ashley skated over to Rusty. "Suppose,..."
"Well, probably not from each other," Rusty admitted.

"I'll protect one of ya!" CB said, finally speaking up. "I'm just as strong as he is!"
Buffy eyed Rusty and CB trying to decide which one to go with.
"Alright," Buffy said, "I'll try my luck with the new guy."
CB gave a grin.
She rolled over to him, "Hiya."
"Hey! So you're Buffy?"
"Yup," Buffy said.
Ashley Snuggled up next to Rusty, laying her head on his shoulder. "My protector."
"Aww," Rusty's ears turned the lightest shade of pink.
"made a good choice," CB said with a wink. "I’m as good a protector as any engine."
Buffy grinned, "Sounds good."
"Course!"
"Now," Rusty said to Ashley, "What exactly am I protecting you against?"
"from her," Ashley replied pointing to Buffy with a slight giggle. "She knows too many of my secrets now!"
"Ah," Rusty said, "We can't have that, now can we?"
"No we can't!" the smoker gave a playful pout.
"So, what would CB be protecting Buffy against?"
""Yes, what exactly?" CB asked Buffy.
"Why protecting me against Ashley taking revenge for me knowing her secrets."
CB gave a chuckle. "Wouldn't want that now, would we? paybacks are harsh..."
Buffy nodded
"We'll she won't get at ya long as this red caboose is around."
Buffy grinned, "I feel safer now."

Ashley playfully stuck out her tongue at the buffet car.
Buffy hide behind CB in mock-fright.
The caboose gave Ashley a mock growl and the smoker gave a playful yelp and hid behind Rusty.
Rusty crossed his arms and winked at CB before glaring at him.
CB's eyes sparkled with laughter as he glared back.
Buffy grinned at Ashley from behind the caboose.
Ashley simply grinned back.
"Well, now that we both have our champions..."
"yeah?" Ashley replied.
"What do you think we should do with them?"
"hmmm..."
Buffy smiled lightly.
"what do *you* propose Buffy?"
"Hmm..."

"I think that you try and get along," Rusty said.
Ashley looked to Buffy.
"Mmm," Buffy considered, "What do you think, my protector?"
"It's up to ya coaches really. I never could get you as a whole anyway."
She giggled, "Seems nobody ever does."
"Too confusing"
Buffy smiled, "Some might say full of mystery."
"Exactly!"
She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.
CB blinked at the sudden kiss.
Buffy smiled sweetly at CB.
He grinned
"So how long are you visiting for?"
He blinked again. "Oh I'm not visiting. I've come here to live."
"Really?" Buffy said, "cool."
"yeah..." He grinned.
"Then my champion will remain to defend me," she said with a grin of her own.
he chuckled. "got that right!"
Buffy smiled.

"I think Buffy's found a new friend," Rusty said to Ashley.
Ashley giggled "good. I don't got to share then." She winked.
Rusty blushed
"Awwww." the smoker cooed as Rusty’s cheeks turned pink.
"Mean," he said, not really meaning it
Ashley giggled again. CB simply shook his head.

"Ah, Rusty's easier to make change color though'," Buffy said
"Hmmm, I'm sure if ya worked hard enough you'll make him change color."
"Hmm," Buffy regarded CB.
Ashley watched, amused.
She circled around in front of the caboose.
His deep blue eyes followed.
She smiled sweetly at him.
"what?"
"Oh nothing," she said sweetly.
He tilted his head slightly.
"So, how easy is to make a caboose blush?"
He gave a shrug but answered. "wouldn't waste your time."
"Oh I don't think it's a waste of time," Buffy said
He raised a brow.
She smiled at him sweetly.
"ya can't get me to blush."
"Oh no?"
"no."
"Mm," she said, "come sit down with me."
CB looked over to Rusty and followed Buffy.
She indicated a bench.
He sat.
She sat on his lap
His eyes went wide and he felt the warmth of his cheeks turning red.
Buffy smiled at him, "There now, that wasn't so hard."
"I ain't blushin..." he insisted, trying to fight it.
"Yes you are."
That only made him grow redder. "not"
She just smiled.
"Not..." he said quietly.
"Alright," Buffy said, "You just believe that."
His cheeks by now were as red as his frame. He mumbled something under his breath.
Buffy smiled, "Oh don't worry, now that I proven I can do it, I won't need to do it so often."

Ashley giggled. "He's a adorable as Rusty when he changes collar"
"At least I’m not the only one..." Rusty said
Ashley giggled again.
Rusty gave Ashley the look of one long suffering.
'aww Rusty," she said putting her arms around his shoulders from behind. "you know we love you."
"Yeah I know, I know."
"Good," she said with a smile and mussed his hair a bit.
"Ack!"
It was CB's turn to chuckle slightly.
"Why does *everybody* feel the desire to do that to me?" Rusty asked.
"It's the hair Rusty," CB chuckled.
"plus I *love* your reaction," Ashley replied.
"Meh."
CB continued to snicker.

Rusty attempted to fix his hair.
"Good luck Rusty. It don't work that way."
He pulled off his headband and ran his fingers through his hair a few times in an attempt to tame it.
The caboose shook his head.
"Oh and I suppose you have a suggestion?"
He grinned. "a cap," he said simply pointing to his. "They can't get at your hair then."
Buffy yanked his off in response.
"Gah!" the caboose cried in surprise.
"Ah look, he's blonde!" she said with a giggle.
"blonde?" Ashley repeated looking over. "He is!" she giggled as well.
Buffy grinned at him.
Now *that* made him blush. "C'mon.....Gimme my cap back..."
Buffy started to play with his hair
"Gah!" he tried to push her hand away. "Not you too!"
"Oh hold still," Buffy said, "Wow, your hair's longer then Rusty's..."
"Ah fun..." came Ashley’s response
Buffy grinned
The caboose still tried to push Buffy's hands away and grab his cap.
She tossed it to Ashley who caught it.
CB tried to get up but couldn't with Buffy on his lap. "Rusty! Get it!"
Rusty turned to Ashley.
Ashley moved around and called, "Buffy!"
Rusty caught hold of Ashley's couplings.
She let out a cry of surprise as the steamer grabbed hold.
Rusty put his arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Hey!" she cried . "not fair!"
"Why?" Rusty asked.
"I think it's *very* fair," came CB's response.
"Because you're supposed to be protecting me," Ashley replied with a playful pout.
"Aw," Rusty said, "But I still am."

"Hey! Wha's with all th' noise out here?" came a male voice.
Rusty deftly removed the hat from Ashley's hand
Ashley continued to pout.
a younger brick truck entered. "what's goin on here?"
"Hi Flat Top," Buffy greeted him.
"heya Buffy!! ya guys havin' a party without me?"
"Nah," Buffy said, "Not a party."
"What's with the noise then?" the was when FT noticed CB. "Ooo, new face."
"Yeah, Flat Top, this is CB, Rusty's cousin."
"heya!' flat top gave his favorite brick a pat from where it sat in his belt and held out his hand. "Name's Flat Top." The caboose could only stare for a moment and hesitated before taking the bricktruck's hand and shaking it.

Rusty let Ashley go
Ashley mussed his hair again. "payback," she said simply.
"Argh!" Rusty reached up to shield his head from her.
She grabbed for the hat. "Rusty!" CB called noticing Ashley grab for it.
He yanked it out of her grip
She gave a slight pout.
Rusty smiled cutely at her
She crossed her arms. "Think you're so cute don't you!"
FT rolled his eyes. Coaches!
"I've been told I am," Rusty said.
Ashley shook he head. "We did it now Buffy...It's gone to his head." She giggled.
Buffy giggled.
"I'm just repeating what I've been told," Rusty said.
Ashley giggled. FT simply looked to CB and shook his head.

Buffy giggled again and continued to play with CB's hair
"Gah!" CB cried. "I said stop it."
"Why?"
"You're messin' up my hair!"
"Aww, I'm not doing that much damage."
he tried to get it to lay flat.
Buffy just watched him, allowing him to try and fix his hair
He tried as best he could.
She laughed, "Here, let me."
"Go ahead." CB said, giving the buffet permission.
Buffy started to arrange his blonde hair
The 'boose sat still
Eventually she got it more or less flat.
"Thanks..."
She smiled, "You need to get it cut I think."
"nah I don't."
"You might look nicer with shorter hair."
"Eh..."the caboose thought about this suggestion a moment. "Nah! like my hair this length"
Buffy shrugged.
Rusty, will ya give me my hat?"
"Yeah," Rusty tossed it over.
He caught it. "Thanks" and slipped it on his head.
"What's so special about that cap anyway?" FT asked.
There was a round of shrugs
"It's just...sorta lucky for me, I guess" came CB's reply.
"Oh?" Buffy asked
"yeah, gotten me out of a lot of scrapes."
"Ah," Buffy said, "Then I'm sorry I swiped it."
he shrugged. "I'm prolly just superstitious...."
She shrugged as well.
"I wouldn't say that," FT spoke up.
"Why not?"
He gave a shrug "Just wouldn't."
"Alright," Rusty said, "But I don't believe in stuff like that."
CB looked to Rusty. "Ya ain't the only one to say that." He placed his cap on his head.
Rusty nodded
"But if ya knew what it's gotten me through.."
Rusty shrugged, "Hey, it's your hat, you're allowed to think that it's lucky."
"Damn right!" he agreed. So he'd need to work on the swearing

Rusty nodded, watching Ashley a bit warily.
Ashley felt another nicotine urge hit and took out her pack of cigarettes. "Sorry I took your hat CB. If that's the way you feel about it." She lit the cigarette and placed it in her mouth a moment.
Buffy nodded as well.
"Eh, all's forgiven." CB replied
"Good," Buffy said, kissing him lightly on the cheek
he grinned slightly, liking this sort of attention from coaches.
She got up off his lap
"Gettin up so soon?" he teased.
She smiled, "Can't spoil you y'know..."
"yeah yeah.."
"Otherwise you'll get like Rusty," she teased the steamer.
Ashley gave a giggle. "And we don't want *that* to happen." she gave Rusty a teasing wink.
"Aw c'mon, you know you love me," Rusty said
"Of course we do." Ashley finished her cigarette and stomped it on the ground. She then gave Rusty a small kiss on the cheek.
Rusty grinned cutely at her
The coach was tempted to mess with his red hair again, but resisted.

"Well," Rusty turned to CB, "What do you think of my friends?"
The caboose grinned. "Interesting bunch."
"Aren't they?"
CB nodded.
Buffy grinned cheekily at CB.
He gave her a goofy grin in return.
"I think we can keep you," she said, she looked to Ashley, "What d'you think?"
Ashley pretended to study him and then gave her nod of approval. "yeah, we can keep ya."
Rusty laughed a bit
CB gave a wide grin. It felt good to be accepted.