Chapter Text
Christmas in the Troubadour yard signalled a time of togetherness, laughter and light. For the last few years, trains of all kinds would get together to celebrate at the big Christmas Eve party hosted by Momma and the coaches.
Well, everyone except Greaseball, it seemed.
“Dinah, I already told you, I don’t want to go,” the engine grumbled, unmoving from her place on the couch.
“But Greaseball, everyone will be there-” Dinah pleaded, pulling on her scarf and gloves. “Please, even just for an hour?”
“I don’t like Christmas parties, doll,” Greaseball glowered.
“I know, but I worked so hard to make everything nice with Momma and the coaches, and I would really like you to be there...” she frowned.
“I’m sure you’ll have fun without me,” she said, standing from her seat, arms crossed. “I’m tired, I’m going to bed.”
“Love, come on, it's Christmas,” the coach deflated, tears forming in her eyes.
“Christmas is stupid, just like this party is stupid. I’m not going,” Greaseball doubled down, raising her voice. Dinah looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she somehow found it within herself to take a deep breath and stand firm.
“Fine, if you want to spend Christmas Eve miserable and alone, be that way! Don’t wait up for me, I’m going back to the coach shed tonight,” she retorted, huffing as she turned away. “Happy Christmas,” she fumed, slamming the door to the shed shut as she left.
“Whatever!” she yelled back, always one to have the last word. Dinah just didn’t understand. Christmas was overrated and a waste of her time. Why would she want to go to a party with a bunch of coaches, freight and steamers? It was bad enough that she had to interact with them on a daily basis. She’d had a long, cold day on the lines, and she wanted nothing more than to crawl into her nice warm bed and sleep. Christmas meant a break, and a break meant more time to practice for the next race. If she slept now, she’d be able to get up early enough to hit the practice tracks with ease.
So, the engine made her way to her room, closing the door behind her and began to get ready for bed. Her night routine was quite short, unlike Dinah’s, which seemed to go on forever, so it wasn’t long before she found herself settled in bed, staring at the ceiling as she waited for her systems to shut down.
As she waited, her mind couldn’t help but wander. Maybe she shouldn’t have yelled at Dinah tonight, but it wasn’t her fault that the coach was getting on her nerves. Dinah just needed to accept her for who she was. And that was someone who hated Christmas. It didn’t matter; tomorrow she’d offer a half-hearted apology, and the dining car would forgive her like she always did, then everything would go back to normal.
Yes, this thought comforted her as she found her eyelids growing heavier, drifting off to sleep.