Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Tuck Everlasting. 'Nuff said.

Never Again

Chapter 4 – Something Beautiful  

     "What the hell are you exactly lookin' for?" Miles asked his brother irritably. Jesse just shrugged his broad shoulders and continued on looking at the shelves. They have stopped by at a big town, which had a huge market, in Nevada for a bit of rest since they were traveling to Treegap in California, and his brother decided to get something for Winnie. She was turning eighteen in two weeks. Jesse had to be there. He had promised her that he'll be there on her eighteenth birthday. And he wasn't about to break that promise.

Winnie Foster was her name and she is Jesse's beloved, who had been separated from each other for the past six years. Jesse had been heartbroken to death since they left Treegap. He hadn't eaten, slept, done anything! But just three years ago, Jesse finally started getting his act up and now is recuperating, much to everyone's relief.

     Miles sighed, "We've been in here for the past hour or so! I'm starvin'! Aren't you?"

     "Miles, stop your whinin'! I ain't gonna leave this store or this place 'till I get something beautiful for Winnie!" Jesse snapped his head 'round. Then something blue in color caught his eyes. "Ah! I think I found it!" Jesse jogged to a tall wood case with a glass cover; in it were necklaces of all sorts. "Miles, ring the bell!" His brother lazily rang the silver bell on the counter and an elderly man dressed in a white dress shirt and navy blue corduroy pants came bustling in from a door behind the counter.

     "Good afternoon, young sirs. Call me Mr. Reeds. How may I be of service?" He adjusted his large glasses that magnified mahogany colored eyes.

     "Yes, uh, can I see that necklace over there?" Jesse pointed an azure lace choker placed underneath a black velvet cushion.

     "Yes, of course," the man beamed. He reached for something behind his back, soon jingling sounds was heard: keys. Mr. Reeds carefully looked through the silver and gold keys, and his kind smile grew wider when he found the right one. Getting out of the long counter, he went to the case where Jesse stood impatiently.

Miles smirked at his brother. Jesse's eyebrow twitched, eyes gleaming, fingers twining with each other, completely agitated and excited at the same time. He would give up anything, just to see that face one more time.

      Mr. Reeds must have noticed as well, "Young man, don't worry, you'll see it."

      "Uh …yeah," Jesse squeaked, blushing beet red.

Mr. Reeds unlocked the glass cover with a small silver key and opened it carefully. He reached in the case passing a couple of other beautiful necklaces and took out the deep blue choker out of its cushion. Then he handed it to Jesse, as if it was fragile.

Since Jesse hadn't really seen the choker clearly, now he did. It was remarkably beautiful. He could see Winnie wearing it, it will definitely bring out her eyes, and they were the same deep ocean blue color.

The choker had an intricate design, curved, looped, and twined. While it had azure diamonds (not real of course) with its own looped threads to protect them. The end of the choker had one piece of diamond each, so when you tie it, it would there for more design.

     "How much is it?" Jesse asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

     "Fifty dollars."

Jesse gulped. He didn't bring enough money with him. Well, he did but most of it was for paying the motels that their going to stay in and for the food they had to eat. And hell, Miles wasn't that generous.

     Blast it! Damn it all!

The panic from his charming face must have shown because Mr. Reeds shook his balding head and smiled. "Calm down, young man. You must love the woman that much because your face says it all. I haven't done this before, but you may have it for no fee."

Jesse jaw dropped in utter awe, looking at the man as if was a god, fallen from heaven, granting one of his wishes that almost couldn't be fulfilled.

     "Are y-you s-serious?!" Jesse stuttered.

     "Why of course! Why wouldn't I be?"

     "'Cause! People these days don't just give things, such as these," the russet-haired boy defended, gesturing the necklace in his hands, "willingly! In the end, you might alert those damn police and charge me for stealin'"

     "I am not one of those people," he said softly. "Please?" Jesse relaxed a little and nodded numbly. "Excellent choice, sir. Now, if you give it to me, I will put it in a bag for you."

     Jesse nodded again, and handed it him. "Mr. Reeds, why are you doing this?"

     "I had promised my wife that if I saw a man, exactly like I was when I was in your age, I would do the same deed the real shopkeeper of this store had done to me. And that deed was to give something that young man desired for their beloved. And I saw you! And I knew you were the one!"

     "Where is your wife?" Such a question can change ones mood.

     "I must say, truthfully, that she is long gone." His droopy eyes lowered down to the ground, where he stood.

     "I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Reeds," Jesse said honestly and reached out to pat the man's shoulder.

To say at least, the three men that stood in the old shop had experienced the loss of their loved ones. But only one of them will have one more chance to bring them back.

     Jesse put down the small sky blue bag on top of the bed and faced his brother, "Mr. Reeds was sure generous to give that necklace for free."

     "He told you his reason," Miles said quite sullenly.

     "Hey, what's botherin' ya?" Jesse asked, arms crossing and brows knitting together.

     "Nothing."

     "I know that look. You miss—"

     "Jess, just shut it. Just shut it," Miles demanded his voice hoarse. He stood up, slightly towering his brother and walked out of their motel room.

     "Where you goin'?"

     "Puff 'a smoke."

Jesse shook his head. He knew the reason why Miles acted this way. He missed his wife, Joan, who left him with their two kids after thinking the Tucks had sold their souls to the devil. He couldn't blame his brother though; it hurt had hurt a lot, maybe more than a lot, when he had to leave Winnie. So, he knew how Miles felt.

     But don't worry, Winnie. I'm coming back for you. Not matter what.

His thoughts drifted away when his eyes closed to a deep slumber filled with a smiling Winnie for his dreams. Now that is something beautiful.

Author's Note: Wheee! I completely changed Chapter Four! So that means 'Back to the Spring' will be Chapter Five and 'Finding Clark' will be Chapter Six! I love how I wrote this chapter! I like my character, Mr. Reeds, he's so sweet! LoL.

Now I have no clue what Miles' wife's name is. But as I recall it was Joan. I haven't really watched the movie in a while, so forgive me if I'm wrong! Stay tuned for Chapter Five!

- polarisX11 -