The Midnight Train Crossing

The couple had gone on for some time. Lily had been silent for most of the trip, and then she spoke up, "Ryan?"
"Yes Lil?"
"It’s getting dark..."
He looked up at the setting sun, "So it is... I’ll find a place to stop..."

RC led Lily over to the shelter of a tree. She sank to the ground and he joined her, sitting down next to her.
"I’m sorry Lily..." he said softly, taking her hand gently in his, "I promise, we won’t do this forever... we’ll return to AV..."
"How long?" she asked softly.
"I... I don’t know Lil..." he said softly.
"We can’t keep running forever," she said.
"I know..." he looked down.
What’s the worst that could happen anyway?" she asked. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "It wasn’t your fault honey."
Yeah...." he said softly, "Not my fault...."
They laid down, and she curled up in his arms, falling asleep quickly.

RC began to dream.

He and Lily had settled into a new trainyard, far from his old one. They had adapted well to their new life, and even could be considered to be happy.
"Hey RC!" one of the engines that he worked with called.
The caboose looked up, "Yeah?"
"Somebody ta see ya," he indicated one of the buildings.
"Alright, thanks!" he headed towards the building, to discover a boxcar waiting inside.
"RC?" the car asked.
The caboose nodded, "Th’ one and only. What can I do for ya?"
"We need a caboose," another freight car that had mysteriously appeared said, "You got plenty of experience?"
"Of course," RC replied.
"How about in rocky terrain?"
"High altitudes?"
RC hesitated before answering, ".....sure...."
"Of course he can," one of the cars said, clasping a friendly hand on RC’s shoulder, "No other caboose came more highly recommended. There’s nobody like RC here."
RC gave a slight grin and looked up at the boxcar.
"He’s very good at what he does."
"So I’ve been told..." RC replied, keeping modest.

The boxcar’s smile faded, "So good he thought he’d never be caught!"
"What?" RC asked, "What do you mean?...."
Another car set a hand on his shoulder, "Thought nobody would ever find ya here, did you?"
"I-I don’t understand..." he started, then cried out as his arms were pinned behind his back.
"Things were going well until that big crash, huh?" the lead car said as the other two bound RC’s hands behind his back.

RC began to struggle, "Let me go!... please...."
"Didja have a fight with him that morning?"
"No!"
"Just get tired of working for him then?"
"No!" RC exclaimed, "I enjoyed working with him!"
"Then why’d you kill him?"
"I didn’t *mean* to!" RC insisted, still struggling, "It was an accident!"
"And how many other... accidents... were there?"
"None! I didn’t cause any accidents!"
"Just like a caboose to deny everything," one car muttered.
"I *didn’t*! I have a clean record!" RC cried.
"Yeah, cuz you run before anybody can pin anything on ya."
"NO!!" RC shouted, "That’s NOT true!!"

"And what about the coachnapping?"
"NO!" he exclaimed, "She came *with* me!!"
The car leaned closer to RC disdainfully, "Why would a first class sleeper go with a caboose, and a freight one at that."
"She *loves* me!" he nearly growled.
"Yeah right," the car said, "What’ve you got over her?"
"Nothin’!" RC snapped, "It’s true!"
The box car laughed.
RC growled again and struggled, "Don’t laugh!!"
"Why?" the car taunted, "What’re you gonna do about it?"
RC’s bound hands clenched to fists and he struggled to break free, growling.
The car stepped a bit closer, "You’re just like all cabooses turn out sooner or later."
"NO! that's not TRUE!" he growled struggling again.
"Insane."
"NO!!" RC practically screamed. He lunged at the car, but missed, and RC fell to the ground. The boxcar tsked and leaned down on one knee, resting his other skate on RC’s back.

RC cringed and wiggled, struggling against the rope, "Let. Me. GO!!"
"Now why should I do that?"
"You’ll regret it if you don’t!!" he growled, trying to knock the car off him.
"Why should I let a crazy caboose who’s responsible for the death of two trains go?"
"Two?!"
"Yes two," he responded, "Although I suppose you really only intended one."
"I didn’t indent ANY!" RC spat, "It’s TRUE!"
"Well," the car said, "That doesn’t change the fact that an engine and a coach are dead."
"Engine a-and coach?...." RC swallowed hard and stopped struggling.
"Yes," the car said simply.
"N-not.... D-Daisy..." he stammered out weakly, more of a plead then anything else.
"Yes Daisy. Do you remember her?"
He took a deep breath (although it was difficult with the car’s wheels pinning him down) "‘Course I do..."
"Once her engine died, she couldn’t handle it anymore."

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "I’m... I’m sorry Daisy..." he whispered.
The car removed his skate from RC’s back, "Crazy caboose."
"I’m NOT crazy!!" he spat, trying to get up. That was something he had worked hard to prove.
"Probably runs in his family."
"NO! It's doesn't!!"
"Hope it doesn't get passed on to your son."
"It won't!!" RC growled . "I'M perfectly sane! HE'S perfectly sane!!"
"Time will tell on that."
"he's FINE!!" RC had made it up to his knees, struggling against the rope.
"with a caboose for a father and a sleeper for a mother, that's pretty impressive."
RC growled. "Lay off Lil and my son!! They done nothin' to you!! And neither have I!!"
The cars hauled RC up to his wheels.
"Let me GO!!" the caboose shouted
"Certainly not," the car responded, tightening the ropes around RC’s wrists, "you’re coming with us."
"I’ve got a coach and a son to take care of!" RC shouted.
"They’ll be better off without you," they started to lead him to the door.
"NO!" he practically screamed, his voice going up an octave, "Lily needs me! My son needs me!"
The two cars held him firmly as they dragged him towards the door, "Time to go."
"No! Lil! Lily!"

Lily awoke as RC rolled into her, still screaming, "No! Let me go! Lily!"
"Ryan," she shook him gently, "Wake up!"
He continued to scream her name.
"Ryan, wake up!!" she shook him harder.

His eyes jerked open. His face was pale and he was in a cold sweat. "Lily!!" he sat up, looking around frantically.
She gave him a hug, "I’m right here."
"Lily!..." he gave a sigh of relief and embraced her. He was shaking and his heart going a mile a minute.
"Shh, shh," she rocked him, "You were having a nightmare, a bad dream, that’s all."
"It was so real Lily... too real..."
She hugged him tightly, "It’s over now."
He took another breath, started to calm down now that she held him. "Too real..." he whispered again.
"Shh..." she gave him a few gentle kisses and snuggled against him, "It was just a bad dream. No matter how real it seemed at the time, it was just a dream."
"I hope so Lily..."
She kissed him.

"There now," Lily said, stroking his sweaty blonde hair back, "Just relax."
He took deep breaths, still shaking slightly.
She sat up with him, holding him close to her.

"I love you Lil..." he said, "with all my heart... I want ya to remember that..."
"Of course Ryan," she said, "but I know that already."
"I just want you to know.... case anythin’ should happen to me...."
"I love Ryan," she said, hugging him tightly.
He took a deep breath. He had wanted to do this after they got settled, but now seemed as good a time as any. "I love you too Lily... and... well..." he pulled away from her, putting his hand in his back pocket. He lowered to one knee, "Well... it’s time I do somethin’ about that claim..."
He pulled a small ring box from behind his back, "I love you so much that I’d love for you to be my wife... Lil.." he opened the box, "Will you marry me?"
She was silent for a second, gazing into his dark eyes. And then she nodded.
A smile slowly crossed his face. He took her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.

She looked at it for a moment, watching the small diamond sparkle, and then she dove into his arms.
That made him burst into laughter as he nearly toppled over, while catching her.
She kissed him firmly, for a long time.
He embraced her, his nightmare completely forgotten in the happiness.
RC grinned at her, "Oh Lil, You’ve made my entire life complete..."
She hugged him tightly, "I love you."
"I love you too Lily and now everyone will know."
She nodded, "I'm glad of that."
"so am I." He winked. "No one can my lovely Lil away from me."
"Your lovely Lil won't permit being taken away from you," she said with a wink of her own
He chuckled. "Good to hear." RC kissed her again.

The sun had completely risen by this time, and Lily pulled away, "I guess it’s time for breakfast."
RC looked at his watch, "I guess so."
She pulled out her bag and took out two apples, handing him one and biting into the other.
RC ate his own apple, but smiled to see Lily grinning at him.
"I love you," she murmured.

When they finished eating, RC got up and stretched, "I suppose we should get moving."
She nodded, "Yeah, where are we headed?"
"The name of the station is Hilton. A few hours down the track yet."
"Alright."
He held out a hand to help her up, getting her up to her skates. Then he turned around.
She hitched up, but not without a very slight sigh.
"Lily....?"
"It’s just... we’re getting further away..."
Her sigh cut at his heart. "I’m sorry Lily..."
"I know," she said quietly, leaning forward and resting her head on his shoulder, "It’s how it has to be."
"We’ll go back Lil... I promise..."
"I know we will."
He turned and kissed her.

They traveled on for most of the day, only stopping for lunch. After a picnic lunch, they headed off again, making it to Hilton just after six pm.

When they neared the yard, Lily had fallen silent. Actually, she had been for awhile. Her eyes were closed and she just hung on, letting RC pull her.
"Lily....?" he asked.
"Hmm?" she opened her eyes
"You’ve gotten silent..." he said uncertainly.
"Oh," she said simply.
"What’s on your mind?" he asked.
"Nothing... just... tired..."
"Well..." he looked up as the entered the yard, "We’re here."
She nodded and closed her eyes again.

He stopped when they entered and turned around, taking Lily in his arms in a hug. RC looked around for any engine or car that might be able to help them.
"Excuse me..." he flagged down a passing diesel engine.
"Yes?" the engine stopped.
"We’re looking for a place to stay... I don’t suppose you’d have any room?"
The engine looked over RC and Lily, "Might."
"We’ll work for our keep," he offered.

"Ryan?" Lily said softly ,"I don’t..." she trailed off faintly.
"Lily?" he looked down to her.
She closed her eyes and sank into his arms, going limp, although still breathing.
"Lil!" His dark eyes widened in fear and he looked back to the diesel, "Where’s the repair shed!"
The urgency in RC’s tone snapped the diesel out of his uninterested mood and he moved over to them, turning around, "I’ll take you over there."
RC secured Lily in his arms and grasped hold of the diesel’s couplers.

The engine took them to the repair shed, pulling up to the door and knocking.
RC thanked the engine, and looked down at Lily, limp in his arms and bit his lip.

The door opened and they were ushered inside.

The repair truck was a short car with short blonde hair who greeted RC with "What happened?"
"We arrived here only moments before and soon after she fainted," RC said, "Please... if anything happens to her..." he swallowed hard. He’d never forgive himself...
"Bring her in here," she directed.
He followed her and gently lay Lily down in the bed, then backed off a bit, watching the repair car look Lily over. He wrung his hands out of nervousness.
The repair truck looked over to RC, "Shoo. You won’t be any help in here."
He started to protest, but stopped himself and instead headed towards the door, looking back only once more before exiting.

After nearly an hour, the repair truck came out, "She’ll be fine."
RC let out a sigh of relief, "What was it? Illness? Over-exhaustion?"
"More of the second."
He relaxed even more, "May I see her?"
The repair truck nodded.

RC went into the room, to see Lily awake now.
"Lily..." he skated over to her.
"Hi," she said tiredly.
"Lily I’m sorry..." he began.
"Come here." she reached out for his hand, pulling him in closer to her, making him sit down on the bed.
"Guess I scared you huh?" she asked.
He nodded, "A little..."
"I’m sorry," she said gently, "I didn’t-" suddenly she smiled, "well, I guess I’ve got something to tell you"
"Oh?"
"You know how I’ve been tired lately?"
He nodded again.
"Well... there’s a reason..." she said, "I...I wasn’t sure at first... so I didn’t say anything..."
"What is it?" he asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Oh, well, nothing is *wrong*..."
He blinked, "then... what?"
She looked at the ring on her finger and smiled, "I don’t really know how to tell this to you..."
"Don’t worry Lil... just say it..."
"We’re going to be parents.

That took him by surprise and he took in a breath, staring at her.
She nodded slowly.
"You... and me?...."
She nodded again with a tiny smile.
RC had a look of astonishment on his face. He’d be a father! But then his dream came back to him... He shook it away. It was a dream. Nothing more.
"Imagine..." he said finally, "Me... a father..."
She nodded slowly, a bit worried about his reaction.
He leaned over and kissed her, "I’m so happy."
Her smile grew and she kissed him back.
"I’ll be a father..." RC said in wonder.
"And a good one at that," she said.
"You think so?..."
"Yes I do."
He gave her another kiss, "And you’ll be a wonderful mother."
She smiled, "Thank you."

He nuzzled her a moment, before asking, "Would you like anything to eat?"
"I think there are some apples left," she said, "that sounds good right now..."
RC took the bag and opened it, taking out an apple.
"Thanks," she said, taking a bite
He smiled at her, looking into her deep blue eyes.

His hand hesitantly went to her stomach, it was too early for her to show, and he couldn’t believe there was another life that had started there. She smiled and set a hand on his.
"I love you..." he whispered.
"I love you too," she said, "so very much."
He turned his hand so he held hers and gave it a gentle squeeze, "You make me so happy..."
"Well I’m glad of that," she said with a grin, moving over so he could join her on the bed.
She cuddled next to him, lying comfortably in his arms.

"Well," she said, "What now?"
"Maybe it might be best to have you spend the night here," he said, "tomorrow we’ll find a place to stay."
"And..." she said softly, "I don’t think we can run anymore...."
He gave a nod. He knew that was true. "No more running," he promised.