Sunny pushed a button on her display, and immediately she was logged into the call. "Hey guys! How ya doing?"

"Hi Sunny!" Pipp called. "How's the weather in Falmouth! 'Cause it is fab out here!"

"We've got a 1960s weekend on in Swanage, which is why she's talking like that," Zipp explained. "It's also quite hot, which is why it's nice I've got the AC working in here."

"We've got it set up the old fashioned way," Sunny smiled. "Windows! Least my room faces away from the sun in the morning."

"So, what's been going on?" Misty asked. "Alpha- I mean dad is offering to move to Swanage full time, but I'm not sure how good a fit it would be for him. I mean, he's been a nomad for so long I'm not convinced always moving around is a good idea."

"I kinda get that," Sunny said. "Mom says she's been to so many places she's lost any real sense of where home is for her."

"Well," Hitch said, "Know that the Starshines will always have a home here."

"Of course they do!" Izzy chimed in. "It's their house and belongs to them!"

"One of the upsides of a fully paid off mortgage, I guess," Hitch said. "So, anyway, you guys went away partway through the summer. What did you get up to?"

Sunny grinned. "It was great. On our way to Bristol we stopped off at the West Somerset Railway and visited Minehead- that's where my aunt Veronica lives, by the way. They had some really nice stuff, even if some of the local accents were a little hard to understand. Then, we continued onwards to Bristol and looked around some of the places mom and dad knew from the days they lived there."

"I didn't know that!" Pipp said.

"Yeah, they moved out after dad finished his degree, and mom's flat wasn't exactly suited for raising a family," Sunny said. "But there's something more important than that. As you probably know, my parents have been married for twenty years! Isn't that something?"

"Congratulations to them!" Hitch said, with a smile.

"I'll be sure to pass it on," Sunny said. "As our trip coincided with the anniversary, we visited an old stately home called Dyrham Park. It's where they got married all those years ago." She paused again, waiting for something.

"Why has it suddenly gone quiet?" Zipp asked.

"Suspense," Pipp suggested.

"I think Sunny is building up to something EPIC!" Izzy said, before a shower of glitter appeared behind her on the monitor.

"Well, that was something that happened," Misty said. "Did your parents do anything special there?"

Sunny grinned. "They recreated their wedding portrait. Same spot, same day, clouds were a little different." She clicked some buttons, and then two photos appeared side by side on the screen. One showed the original image from 20 years earlier, and the other the recreation. The subjects looked slightly older in the second shot, but otherwise the two scenes were very similar.

"Awwww!" said Pipp. "They're so sweet! I tried to pursuade mom and dad to recreate there's, but we hit a teensy snag in that mom's dress doesn't really fit her anymore."

Sunny clicked another button, and another photo moved into place. "They even let me stand in one of them."

Just then, the door opened. "Sunny, I've got some laundry for you!" Goldie called, and popped it down on her bed. "Could you sort it- oh. You're telling your friends about our summer, I assume?"

"Yes mom," Sunny replied, suddenly looking slightly deflated.

"It's fine," Goldie smiled, and sat down next to her. "It was weird being back there after all that time. Standing there in the same spot, in the same dress, next to Argyle... I felt like I was twenty years younger."

"It's really remarkable you were able to do that, Mrs Starshine," Misty said.

"Please, call me Goldie," Goldie smiled. "Only my financial advisor calls me by my title. And thank you. Arguably what was most remarkable was that after twenty years and a daughter I could still fit in my wedding dress."

Sunny looked over. "Mom, I don't know if now's the right moment... but thanks for raising me."

Goldie hugged her daughter. "It's never a problem, dear. Becoming a mom was one of the best decisions I ever made, because it meant I got to have you in my life."

She stood up. "I'll let you get back to your chat. After all, rolling stock won't sell itself!"

"Do you think she's up to it?" Argyle asked.

The couple were sat round the dining table, discussing things whilst the conversation continued upstairs.

"They've been fighting nutcases and dealing with chaos around here for several years now," Goldie replied. "I'm glad that's over. I'm glad that Boomer's not going to be giving me trouble anymore- he just didn't seem to be able to grasp the fact that I'd already found the life I wanted."

"That's a good point," Argyle noted. "So, on that front we need to figure out logistics. I'm just concerned she'll find it all a bit strange and bizarre. I mean, you know this sort of social arrangement like the back of your hand."

Goldie nodded. "Business always does seem to result in formal meals and opera. A lot of opera." She sighed. "I've certainly gotten a fair bit of use out of that dress. They do provide a non-alcoholic option, which is good- as you know I stopped drinking when I was having Sunny and never really took it back up."

"So, you think she's up to it?"

Goldie smiled. "I know she's up for it. She's more mature than people give her credit, and given what she's been through I think a few days in luxury would do her good. Besides, it'd be a shame to waste the third ticket."

"So, it's settled," Argyle said.

"I'll speak to her myself," Goldie said, as she got up from the table. "Besides, I've got a gift for her."

Sunny turned her chair as she heard the knock at the door. "Yeah?"

Goldie opened the door and closed it behind her. "Can we talk for a bit?"

"Sure," Sunny said. "Has something come up?"

Goldie nodded. "Sort of. As you know, your father and I have been married for twenty years now, and seeing as twenty years is a major milestone we wanted to celebrate in style. As part of that, we've booked a trip on the Golden Arrow."

Sunny's eyes widened. "The Golden Arrow? Britain's premier dining train?"

"The very same," Goldie replied. She smiled. "I was wanting to ask if you'd like to come along. Given you've been a part of our lives for so long, and you've had quite the hectic year, we thought it appropriate to give you the option." In an instant, her face went more serious. "But this does mean being on your very best behaviour."

Sunny nodded. "I understand. I'd love to come, and I won't let you down."

Goldie's face softened again. "Good girl."

Sunny switched back to her PC and then brought up the website for the Golden Arrow. "I've noticed something, though."

"Yes?"

Sunny indicated to the dress code. "It states formal dress is required, but I don't know if I have the right sort of thing. The clothing shown here is more contemporary evening wear and 1920s fashions. We may have to find a gown for me at short notice."

"What about the one Pipp gave you for the Falmouth Ball?" Goldie asked.

"I'm not sure it'll fit," Sunny said. "It's a bit brightly coloured, and it's got a really wide skirt. You'd need an entire row of seats to fit it on even when collapsed."

Goldie smiled, knowing where this was leading. "Luckily, I think I have just the thing. Follow me."

Sunny got up and followed her mother into her parents' bedroom- a room she rarely, if ever, went in due to having no reason to go in there.

"Cover your eyes."

Sunny closed her eyes, as instructed, before waiting a moment.

"And open!"

Sunny opened her eyes, and they went wide with amazement. Hanging on the wardrobe was a sleeveless yellow evening gown, with a narrower bodice and a sweeping skirt with a reasonable amount of volume.

Sunny smiled. "Thank you so much!"

Goldie smiled. "Never a problem, Sunny. Seeing as you and your father bought the evening gown for me all those years ago it's only fair I return the favour for you."

Argyle then appeared at the door. "So, are things set to roll?" he asked.

"They most certainly are," Goldie smiled. "We'll also need to pack some overnight clothes- Sunny, you've got your own room as we only felt it fair to respect your privacy."

And so, the three prepared for what they hoped was the adventure of a lifetime. Several days on the rails with the company of one another.

What could go wrong?

Author's Note

Hello everybody, and welcome back to an all-new story. I know this is earlier than you were anticipating my return, but I have made the decision to revive my stories earlier than planned. As a result, we kick off the post-Opaline era with something rather more relaxed.

Sunny's discussion of her parents' wedding anniversary is partly an allusion to the fact my parents like to celebrate theirs in unusual places (such as the Grand Canyon or in Lancaster County).

The Golden Arrow was a luxury boat train operated by the Southern Railway and SNCF (the French rail operator) that connected London and Paris. In many ways the British version of the Orient Express, the train ran from 1926 to 1972 (with a break during WW2) and the name was later revived by Belmond as a luxury railtour. The version of the train seen above is the railtour version (as I struggled to find any historic photos in high enough quality, the above image is a screenshot from Train Simulator Classic).

Sunny's formal gown looks like this:

The idea behind this was that it echoes Goldie's formal gown, reflecting how Sunny looks up to her mother, whilst at the same time having a distinct style of its own.

Next time; Waterloo awaits!