Two weeks went by, but to me, it felt like two years. I wasn't allowed to see Belle once, instead I worked with Flynn during that period. Everyday I arrived at the Rescue Center, hoping to see Belle waiting for me in the yard, repaired and ready for action. And every day, she wasn't there.

I could always hear tools and see flashes of light coming from inside the repair shed, so they must have been doing something. I just hoped they weren't doing what I feared.

Cutting Belle up, and using her for parts.

I shuddered at the thought. Although I had blamed Belle for my life troubles until recently, and had only been working with her for a few days, I had grown extremely fond of her. The thought of not being able to see her again made me hurt to my very core.

But, one day, when I arrived for my shift at the Rescue Center, the repair shed doors were open, and the inside was empty. I assumed Belle was gone for good, so I sadly trudged towards the building. All of my thoughts swarmed around inside my head.

So many things I would never get to tell her, and so many adventures the two of us would never have. As I gripped the handle of the front door, I heard a sound that made me turn around so fast, I almost sprained my wrist because I nearly didn't let go of the door first.

The clang of a large brass bell.

I whirled around the moment I heard it. There sitting on the tracks behind me, was Belle. Fully repaired and repainted, she looked as good as new. She was smiling at me.

"Well there you are! I've been trying to find you all morning, but someone said you hadn't been coming in early like you used to." she said. I dropped my things and ran over to her.

"Belle!" I said, leaning against her with my arms spread wide. Granted, she was much to large to give a proper hug to, but I could try. I began to babble mindlessly as tears began to fall down my face.

"I'msosorryBelle! Inevermeanttohurtyouforsolong! CanyoueverforgivemeforwhatIputyouthrough!?" I rambled. Belle was silent until I finished.

"Of course I forgive you Anon. We've both said things we regret, and done things we regret. Today, we can have a new start, and a new friendship. Does that sound good to you?" she asked. I nodded, still leaning my head against her.

"What took them so long to fix you?" I asked quietly. Belle laughed.

"You don't just fix an engine overnight Anon. It takes time." she said. I looked at her, and once she saw my tear stained face, she realized I had missed her very much. "Anon, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Scott wasn't sure if they would be able to fix you or not. I thought... I thought I might not get to see you again. I thought maybe that had decided to cut you up for parts, and get a new fire engine. There would have been so much I never would have been able to tell you." I said. Now Belle felt bad.

"Oh Anon, I didn't know. I'm sorry. I didn't think you would worry so much. No engine gets scrapped as long as they're still really useful. I would never leave you if I had a choice." she said.

Finally, I pulled myself together, and stood before Belle.

"I didn't realize it until recently, but I've grown to like you Belle. I don't care what happened in the past, you are a very kind engine, and... you saved my life." I said. Belle smiled compassionately.

"My job is to save lives Anon. But we don't usually get put in danger ourselves. I would have gone straight into a burning building to save your life Anon. I owe it to you to do everything I can to make your life as good as possible after everything I've done to make it worse." she said. I patted her bumper.

"Lets make a deal Belle. After today, neither of us ever speaks of what happened all those years ago again. New beginning, stop focusing on the past." I said. Belle smiled.

"I would be happy to, Anon. But... there's something I need to show you before I can do that. If you'd like, I can take you now to show you." she said. I smiled.

"Anything Belle. Just let me punch in and put my things away, and then we can do whatever you'd like." I said.

. . .

A few minutes later, I had boarded Belle, and she had rolled out of the yard to where ever it was she was taking me.

After a while, our surroundings began to look familiar.

"Belle, are you going where I think you're going?" I called.

"Yes." she called back. As she switched onto the country track, the fields began to look familiar. Eventually, a road crossing came into sight, and Belle slowed to a stop before it. I climbed out, and walked to Belle's front. My mothers grave stood on the side of the track, its flowers gently waving in the wind.

"Why do you water the flowers?" I asked again, hoping Belle would tell you this time. Belle took a breath.

"I've never been able to forget what happened that day. Even before I saw you again a few weeks ago, it weighed on my mind everyday. Everyday, I would come out on this line, and stop by this area for a few minutes, silently paying my respects, and hoping that one day, you would find me, and forgive me for what happened. I watered the flowers of the grave everyday, and washed it to keep it looking its best. It was the least I could do, to keep the memory of your mother looking its best." she said.

I stood in silence, gazing at the grave. I heard Belle release steam behind me, and I turned to her with tear filled eyes.

"You did a wonderful job." I said, before giving her a kind of but not really hug. Belle closed her eyes and enjoyed my attempted embrace.

Finally, I let her go, and sighed.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to forgive you, Belle. It was an accident, and you never deserved what I put you through. I've just never been one to forget things, and that hurt me here. I'm glad I got paired with you at the Rescue Center, and I'm glad I was able to forgive you now. I just never thought... that the one who caused so much pain so long ago... could cause so much happiness now." I said, giving her a smile.

Belle blushed.

I climbed back into her cab.

"I'm glad we can finally be friends Anon. I've wanted to be your friend for so long, ever since that day. I wanted to show you I could be something besides a killer." she said, slowly beginning to puff forwards. Suddenly, I remembered something that had happened at Knapford a while back.

"Do you remember that day we stopped for a break at Knapford? It was our second day together, I believe." I asked. Belle stopped, and I got back out, so I could face her.

"Yeah? I remember that. Why?" she asked, steadily looking more nervous.

"And when Mavis arrived, what did you two talk about?" I asked. Now Belle was blushing.

"Umm... just, you know... engine stuff?" she tried. I shook my head.

"Right. Engine stuff. Okay. Is there anything you'd like to tell me, Belle?" I asked, giving her a chance to admit it herself. Belle bit her lip.

"You know, don't you?" she asked quietly. I nodded.

"I know. I just don't know why you haven't told me yet." I said. Belle almost laughed.

"You think it's easy to tell someone that you have a crush on them?!" she asked. I shrugged.

"It's not hard for me. Watch. Belle, I have a crush on you. I figured it out the day after you saved my life." I said.

"Well that may be easy for you to say, but for some it's a little harder to admit...admit... what?" she asked, giving me a bewildered look. I nodded.

"You heard me." Belle frowned.

"Let's pretend I didn't. What did you just say?" she asked. I stuffed my hands into my pockets.

"I like you Belle. A lot. I didn't realize it until the day you started being repaired, but I've grown close to you. Every day I arrived at the Rescue Center, and you weren't there waiting for me, I grew more depressed. I began to think maybe they weren't going to fix you. That's why I reacted like I did when you were finally fixed." I said.

Belle's gaze was locked on me for quite some time.

"You're serious?" she asked. I nodded quietly. Belle didn't seem to believe me.

"How could you possibly feel that much towards me after what I did?! You only forgave me two weeks ago." she asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know Belle. I just know that when I arrived at work, and you weren't there, it hurt a lot. Almost as much as losing my mother. You have the kindest heart I've ever seen, and you put your life before others. You remind me a lot of my mother." I said. Belle's jaw dropped.

"I've liked you since you started at the Rescue Center. I know it's weird, but... I think you're cute. You have a good personality." she said. The two of us stared at each other for a few minutes before we both started laughing.

"Well, if we both feel the same way, maybe we should take it slow, and see where it goes?" I suggested. Belle smiled.

"I've heard from Frieda that being in a relationship with a human can be nice. She and the dock manager are going steady." she said. I raised my eyebrows.

"Well then, I guess we won't be the only human and engine couple around. But, I need to take it slow. I've never been in a relationship before." I said. Belle smiled.

"That's okay, Anon. I've waited this long, I can wait longer. I just enjoy being with you in general." she said. I put a hand on Belle's bumper.

"And I with you. Who knows where we can go from here?" I said. I climbed into Belle's cab, and she slowly chuffed down the line, and around the corner.

As we went, I could feel a presence around me. I looked around, but couldn't see anyone. But it felt... warm. Motherly.

I took a deep breath as Belle and I headed back to the Rescue Center. Today was the day my life changed for the better, and it was all because of Belle.

The one who had caused so much grief and pain... was also the one to cause so much new happiness in my life.

And there was only more to come.