Part 1:

Greaseball was suddenly jostled out of sleep by Dinah, "It's time!" Came her frantic whisper. Instant awake for him. The lights were off, but he could hear her labored breathing interrupted only by soft cries of pain. He turned on the low lighting lamp near their bed. "I'll get help." "Please don't leave me." Dinah's whisper was full of fear, "I'm scared Greaseball." He looked down at his wife, "It'll be okay dear." He reassured her, taking her hand in his. Then he kissed her on her lips before placing his ear on her huge belly. After listening a bit, he whispered to the infant inside, "Wait for daddy, please, wait for daddy." Then he ran to get help. Libraria was up late at the girl's station house cleaning when her son burst in. "Greaseball? You know you can't be here after hours." "Mom, it's Dinah!" "The baby?" Came Pearl's voice from the right side of the room. The observation car had gotten up for a late night glass of water and had stumbled onto the conversation. "Yeah, please, we need your help!" He was frantic. "I'll come....and, Pearl?" "Yes?" "I'll need your help too, will you come with us?" "Of course!" "Good, you'll need to learn about this anyway." "Hmm?" Questioned Pearl, shifting her head a touch to the right. "The way you and Rusty love each other, I'll expect at least one child from you two." "Expect at least three!" Joked Pearl, and the coaches laughed, but Greaseball didn't. "C'mon!" "Alright, alright, we're sorry. Don't worry son, nothing will happen, I'll see to it." Libraria stated, and off they ran. When they arrived, Dinah was going through a nightmare. Libraria patted her hand, "Oh you poor dear. Such a petite body and such a large child. Same as I was when Greaseball was born." "Really?" Gasped Dinah between contractions. For a second, Greaseball was a tad annoyed that his mother had found yet another occasion to mention his childhood, but, he had to admit, it was true. He had seen pictures of his mother when she had been carrying him. "I know what you're going through dearie." Cooed Libraria to her daughter-in-law, taking a few towels from the closet. Handing one towel to Pearl, the old reading car instructed her to get a bowl of ice water in the room. This was to dampen the cloth so that Pearl could dab Dinah's forehead to keep her from becoming overheated. Greaseball sat to his wife's left and let her grip his hand with her pains. Small spasms ran through her body and Greaseball's anxiety level jumped a notch everytime she gripped his hand. This destroyed his tough guy image, but he didn't care. His mother whispered to him, "Be brave for your wife's sake. She'll feel better if you're strong." He complied and did his best to cover up his fear with tenderness. Unlike many women, Dinah didn't insult her spouse for putting her through all this pain. She did, however, whimper and cry in pain greatly. Pearl sat at Dinah's right, dabbing her forehead with the damp towel, dipping it in the ice water, and dabbing again. For a long time, nothing happened and the first rays of sunlight began to creep over the trainyard. "Dinah, listen to me. The baby has to come soon or the child's life may be at stake." Stated the old reading car, trying hard to cover her worry now. Dinah didn't respond, for she'd been on so long that her energy was used up. Sleep threatened to over take her. Pearl shook her friend slightly, fear on her face, "C'mon Dinah, you have to wake up!" Greaseball knew exactly what to do. He leaned over and kissed her softly. She seemed to awaken instantly and kissed him back. "Alright now, I need you to push, dear." Commanded Libraria. Dinah had fresh tears in her eyes as she nodded. Her mother in law positioned herself at the end of the bed. Dinah gripped Greaseball's hand, took a deep breath, and entered the final stage of her labor.

It was around 5 minutes later that a baby cry pierced the air along with Dinah's cry of relief. The new mother collapsed against her pillows and her husband hugged her as best he could. Tears of joy were in his eyes as he saw his child. "It's a boy!" Libraria announced, holding up the baby. Everyone laughed with delight. Pearl and Greaseball helped Dinah to sit up while Libraria cleaned and wrapped up the new child. The new parents hugged each other and kissed and soon, the old reading car handed them their baby. "You two are the parents of a fine little engine." Dinah nestled the baby in her arms and ran a finger softly down his cheek, "Hello, my son. My little engine." Greaseball was in a state of shock. His son! He had a little son! Even better was the fact that he'd had an engine as well. It was rare that happened in the trainyard. He reached out and gently took the baby's small hand in his big one, caressing the little fingers in admiration. Dinah looked him, "Here's your son, daddy." She laughed slightly, and handed the baby to his father. He seemed almost scared at first, afraid he would drop the baby, but eventually he grew more at ease. Greaseball was fascinated by the child and said to him, "Hey little guy, I'm your daddy." Dinah smiled, "It isn't hard to tell that, he looks a lot like you." "Well, except the eyes." Libraria whistfully mentioned, thinking in the past. "How so?" Asked Pearl, confused because she agreed with Dinah. "When Greaseball was born, he had eyes that just gave off the message that you shouldn't mess with him. That little boy has soft eyes, like his mother." Greaseball didn't care, for he loved Dinah's eyes and was glad that she had passed them on to their son. Pearl looked silently upon the scene in front of her. A family extended, new parents and grandparent made. She wished that she could have that soon. The observation car looked again at the child and knew that no one could ever call him unattractive. He was the cutest baby she'd ever laid eyes on. Suddenly, she blurted out, "What are you gonna name him?" Dinah didn't even hesitate, "He's going to be named after his father." Greaseball smiled and Libraria nodded in approval, then added, "I'd never thought I'd deliver two babies of the same name!" Everyone laughed loudly and it stirred the baby who began to cry. "Shh, shh.." Whispered Greaseball, rocking the baby slightly in an attempt to comfort him. His spouse had tears running down her cheeks as she watched them. The leader of the Rolling Stock trying desperatley to comfort a crying baby. Behind that rough exterior was the kindest engine in the trainyard. Finally, Dinah spoke up, "Here Greaseball, he's probably hungry." And she took back the child to feed him. Libraria pulled Pearl out of the room to give them some privacy. In the kitchen, the two women made tea and sat down to drink it. "Feels good to have a hot drink, my gears were getting shut down." Libraria commented. "Yes. I'm going to make more for Dinah and Greaseball." "Aye. You know Pearl, that guy you saw in there was Greaseball, not the tough leader of the Rolling Stock." "That was sweet. It did seem to fit him more." They laughed slightly and Pearl got up to make more tea. Then, the door opened and Greaseball stepped out, his son in his arms. "Dinah wanted to get some sleep and the baby is finished eating." "Here, let me see him." Libraria said, and Greaseball handed her, her grandson. "He's a beautiful child. A credit to his father and mother." Her son only smiled, pleased that his mother approved of her grandson. Pearl came out of the kitchen with a cup of tea. She handed them to Greaseball, "Take this in to Dinah and I'll get you a cup when you come back." He nodded and went into the bedroom. Dinah was drifting off into sleep, and he sat down on the bed next to her. "Dear, I have something for you to drink." She smiled up at him, nearly asleep. He helped her to sit up and she was able to sip the tea slowly with her husband's help because she was so exhausted. The hot tea renewed some of her lost strength and she instantly felt better. When she was done drinking, she laid back on the bed and Greaseball pulled the covers up over her. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead and whispered, "Thank you Dinah," Then kissing her lips he whispered again, "I love you."

Rusty knocked on the door to Greaseball and Dinah's station. "C'mon Greaseball, be home..." He murmered to himself, shuffling his wheels on the track area. Pearl opened the door, "Rusty?" She said, shocked. "Pearl? What're you doing here?" "Helping Dinah, what're you doing?" "Greaseball didn't come to work, I came to see why." "C'mon in Rusty." Said Libraria, coming up to the door, "It has been quite eventful around here, that's why my son didn't go to work." "Just how eventful could it have been? Greaseball never misses - " He stopped short as he saw his friend. The engine stood there, cradling his son in his arms, who was sleeping, "Rusty, what's new?" "That's something I should be asking you." Rusty said, gliding up to him. "Wow." Rusty whispered, staring down at the little baby, "Little guy finally arrived, huh?" "By surprise too. Dinah woke me up in the middle of the night and he entered the world only about half and hour ago." "What's his name?" "Greaseball Jr." "I should've guessed." The engines laughed at this. Everyone seemed to be filled with such joy that they could laugh with ease. The leader of the Rolling Stock had a new son! Four other engines were made true uncles, and everyone else would be an aunt or an uncle whether they liked it or not. "Hey, Rusty, would you do me a favor?" "Sure G.B., what is it?" "Tell the guys I can't come in today. Dinah was so tired out after last night that she has to sleep, and I want a little time to get to know my son." "I'll do it, if you promise to return the favor someday." Grinned Rusty, and he looked over at Pearl. She turned a bright red and looked away, giggling slightly. "I'll help ya." Greaseball said, giving his characteristic grin, "And I know that this is one deal I won't be able to get out of." Over near the door, Pearl rolled her eyes in mock disgust, "Hey guys, I gotta leave or I'll be late. Bye!" She called and glided off to do what she did best, be an observation car. "I'd better be off too. Call me if you need anything, son." Libraria stated, and followed Pearl out the door. "Alright G.B., you probably want a little time alone and I said I'd only be gone a few minutes, so, I'm taking off. Sorry to just up and leave ya like this." Laughed Rusty, and, shaking Greaseball's hand, he skated out the door too. Greaseball sat down at the table and stared down at his little boy. "I promise you, that I'll always be there for you. Teach you how to run the tracks and all that." He whispered into his son's small ear. The baby awoke and wrapped it's tiny hand around his father's index finger. A tear of joy found it's way down the new father's cheek. So this was fatherhood, huh? It suited him just fine.