A/N: So... this is an AU based on one of my favorite books of all time since I was younger 'Tuck Everlasting' I'm using the themes from the novel, the basic idea, but after a point, the plot will change and it will become a slightly different story, so don't think you know what to expect. This has been an idea in my head for a long time and I'm nervous but glad to get this out. I'm hoping this will end up being a wonderful love story that we can all enjoy. :)

The sun had only begun to peer over the valley, no one would be awake just yet; but Irene Fredric was up and out of the cabin, passing the roosters still sound asleep in their pens. She had a bag draped over her shoulder, her hair up and hiding beneath a straw hat; and she started to walk.

Every 20 years, she made this short trip through and out of the woods, toward the town of Willow Tree, where she would pick up her charge; a woman she had been responsible for, for many years. She walked along a path, dimly lit by dawns first rays, her only company, the critters coming out of hiding. After a few moments, she didn't know how long exactly; Irene found the main road into the town.

Many of the homes in town were simple, three bedrooms at most to house the small families that occupied this little town. Everyone knew everyone here, so Irene made sure to keep her head down as she entered Willow Tree. The very first house, the closest to the woods; was the largest and most ornate home of all, owned by the Berings. She knew the history of this family very well, they were the owners of the very woods she lived in, but never once have they even stepped beyond the safety of their tall iron gates to explore the wonders of those woods; and Irene was grateful for that.

As she made her way past the Bering Estate, she felt a pull toward it, looking beyond the home into the land behind the house, she saw a young woman there in the grass; laying with a book in her hands. 'How refreshing' she thought, to have a young woman interested in the written word. She noticed in her many years on this earth, that young people stopped reading books and started endulging in other activities, likely to bring about the destruction of human kind. She also lived in fear of having to witness that fateful day.

Time. It meant nothing really, to this woman who had a lot of it. She let time slip by so easily, the only evidence of how long she had been walking, the slight ache in her feet. However, she managed to make it up the stairs of the train station, walking along the platform until she spotted the woman she was there to retrieve.

At first glance, she was simply a mass of black hair huddled on a bench in the corner; but looking closer, one would see dark brown eyes looking intensely at the book in front of her. They would see that although her eyes were hard, searching for something, her face was soft; her lips parted slightly, quirking in the corner as if to smile. People would see the trail of freckles splattered across her shoulders and neck, her pale skin glowing, the rise and fall of her chest as she took in every word in her hands.

"Helena."

The young woman looked up and shook her head. "Irene." She put her book in her pack and stood, walking toward the other woman.

"Fine. HG it's good to see you. Still reading that book?"

"Mrs. Fredric." HG closed the space between them, smiling as she hugged her caretaker. "I missed you, and this is my favorite. I've read it a thousand times and I could read it a thousand more. Probably will." When HG first found herself in the older woman's care, she didn't like her at all, she was threatened by her and cold toward her. Through their time together, she found that this woman had lived a similar life, living through heart break and hard times, and they became good friends. "How is everyone?"

"They are all doing very well. They miss you, especially your sister." Irene held out an arm, HG immediately linking her arm in, as they made the walk back to the woods.

They talked the entire way, passing the last house before the woods.

"Can't believe this place is still here. You'd think this horrid family would just die off and leave the woods to us already." HG kicked the ground as she walked.

"I know you're not fond of them, but they didn't do anything to you HG and I have a strange feeling we'll be seeing some good coming out of that home very soon." Irene tightened her hold on the younger woman, as if to make sure she was truly listening.

"Good?" HG scoffed. "Out of that place? Mrs. Fredric, those people only care about money! They're greedy and needy."

"Ah! I see your way with words haven't changed. Still writing?" The woman smirked, seeing how the topic caused her charge to shrink into herself.

"What's the point? There's nothing else to write about, it's all been done. Over and over and over and over and..."

"I get it Ms. Wells."

They walked past the house, and made their way toward the woods, disappearing into the lush green foliage, the town of Willow Tree behind them, just the way they liked it. As HG walked past the threshold of the woods, she breathed in and sighed, she was finally home.

Hope you guys like it so far. Don't worry... bringing in Myka and having the story pick up very soon. This was just the first bit and please review and let me know if you like the idea. Even if only one person will read this, I will write it, so please just say yes or no. Love you all for reading. XO