Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Tuck Everlasting. They belong to Natalie Babbit. I have never read the book, so this is based on what I know from the movie.

A/N: This is my first Tuck Everlasting fic. I know this idea's probably been used before, but let's hope I put a different spin on a common idea.

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A New Generation

Chapter One

It was a beautiful day. Warm, but with a slight breeze which kept it from being uncomfortable. Carrie was sitting up a tree, reading when a motorbike pulled up outside the gates. The rider looked at the houses, then took off his helmet. Carrie nearly fell out of the tree. It was him! He really existed! Stealthily she crept down from the tree and ran to where she knew the rider was going- the spring. He was there, kneeling by the grave. Carrie stepped out. "You're Jesse Tuck." He spun around. "Winnie?' he whispered. Carrie sighed, slightly annoyed. "Jeez, I do not look that much like Winnie Foster!" "If you're not Winnie, then how do you know who I am?" "I'm her great grandaughter. She told me about you." Carrie smiled as she remembered her five year old self hearing Winnie's story.

"Will I ever meet Jesse, Winnie? Will I?" Winnie smiled down at the child at her feet. "Of course you will, dearest. And when you meet him, you'll love him too."

"So what's your name?" "Carrie. Carrie Emerson." Jesse looked around, then sat down by the grave. It was clear to Carrie that he was deeply hurt by Winnie's death. "Did she ever come back here?" "Are you kidding? She'd sit here for hours on end, just thinking. Even when she hit 100 she'd still wander off for ages, and noone could find her. She'd be here." Carrie looked at the grave. "That's why we- my family- came back here. Winnie wanted to make sure I knew how special this place was. Is." "I told her I'd be back. I told her to wait for me." Jesse was near tears. "Why didn't she?" Carrie didn't really know what to say. She was no good at comforting; that was her friend's forte. Hers was beating the assailant into a pulp. "Winnie never forgot you. But she spent her life doing something she said she'd learnt from you and your family- just living." Jesse looked at Carrie then, really looked. "You're a lot like Winnie Foster." He was finding it hard to believe it wasn't Winnie in front of him. Oh there were differences, of course. Her hair was shorter and lighter, and she had a distinct Australian accent, but otherwise. "You're really like her." Carrie grinned, then turned as someone called her name. "Yeah, including overprotective parents. I've gotta go. Can I meet you again?" "Perhaps," was all Jesse said, and then he was gone. ************************************************************************ A/N: So, what do you think? Another chapter coming soon (namely whenever I'm allowed back on the computer. Damn my Dad and his work Stuff!)