Winnie drew back her lips from Jesse's, as she looked into his eyes. She touched his soft brown hair that was straggled in his face, and she dragged her finger across the palms of his hand which were so soft, and young. Her eyes swelled up with tears looking at her love…he was finally here to take her back to the life they had before…she was ready to leave everything behind her…everything and anything to be with Jesse again…it was just really bad timing.

Jesse looked at Winnie, his love, his life. He didn't know what to think except love her more than anyone could and kiss those tender lips upon her. However there was worry in her eyes as they darted this way and that looking towards the water and then back at him and then at the sky…something was wrong-and it didn't seem good.

"W-Winnnie-whats wrong?" Jesse put his hands on her shoulders.

" N-nothing…" Winnie smiled at him.

" W-Winnie…tell me what's wrong, I see it in you're eyes."

" I can't" Winnie twitched

" W-what?"

" I wish I couldn't" Winnie eyes started to swell up with tears

" Winnie tell me!" Jesse held her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes " I don't want to lose you…not again."

" I-I-" Winnie stuttered, " I can't tell you this…" Winnie sighed combing her hands through her hair.

" Winnie…" Jesse's eyes darted all around Winnies face that glowed by the moonlight.

"I love you Jesse…" Winnie said through her tears " I've been waiting so many years for you…and I've been turning away so many lovers-all because my heart belonged to you…"

"---belonged" Jesse questioned

" Jesse---I-I – I met Ian two years ago…I met him while visiting the spring. He was looking for his lost dog-and it was as if at that moment at that time at that place…. it seemed we were meant to be or something…Jesse---he even looked like you…it was like a sign as if I was meant to be with him…I didn't think you would ever come back Jesse-you have to understand" Winnie started to cry

"No…." Jesse started to say " NO…"

" Jesse---last month…Ian proposed to me…and –and I said yes…"

" No!" Jesse yelled while pounding both hands upon his head pushing back his hair…he was in disbelief.

" Jesse please---I-I love him."

" but you loved me…Winnie…." Jesse pointed to himself " You promised me Winnie…"

" Well I kept my promise Jesse!" Winnie yelled through her tears

" What?!" Jesse yelled

" I waited for you for years Jesse…watching my mother and father die-friends die before my eyes and what happened to me? I was still there unchanged…I wanted to die Jesse…I wanted my life to end, but I couldn't even kill myself…I wanted to share grandchildren with my parents I wanted to spend time with my friends and grow old with them…but instead I waited for you…"

" you could've just waited one more year Winnie"

" ONE MORE YEAR JESSE?!" Winnie screamed " I've waited YEARS for you!" Winnie fell to her knees and plopped her face into her hands as she cried.

"Winnie…" Jesse sat next to her as he tried to wrap his arms around her.

" I'm so confused right now Jesse…" Winnie cried. " you know I love you more than anything…you know that right?"

" I-I think I do. Yes-yes I do…" Jesse said softly

" I can't hurt Ian Jesse… I can't."

" Well if you cant then why did you agree to marry him…." Jesse implied

Winnie struggled out of Jesses grip as she stared him into his eyes…he was so mysterious…so handsome…all she could think about was kissing him again as passionately she did years ago. But then Ian came into her mind…she knew him for two years of her life. He was like her best friend, her companion… more than just her lover.

" I married him because I loved him just as much as I loved you…maybe-maybe more Jesse…Maybe more." Winnie looked out into the water which was smooth as glass.

" Maybe more…" Jesse repeated " Will you ever love me again Winnie Foster?"

" I don't know Jesse Tuck…" Winnie closed her eyes as the wind blew against her rosy cheeks. " I don't know…"

" Winnie…" Jesse drew near to her

" Jesse…I can't"

" I know…I just can't believe you're not mine anymore…" He rubbed his hand against his forehead.

" Oh Jesse…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Winnie flung her arms around him and held him close.

" Jesse…you'll still be my best friend you know that?…You'll come to my wedding….It's- it's this Sunday…"

" This is insane Winnie…."

" No---no its not…please Jesse you have to understand."

" Understand?! How can I understand about losing you again? This time to someone else other than your parents…"

" I-"

" Winnie-tell me you didn't tell Ian about the spring…please…"

" I was---but, but I didn't…" Winnie sighed

" Thank God…"

" What?"

" I don't want you to tell Ian…"

" Why not?"

" Winnie…he cant find out about the spring…"

" but"

" Winnie he's going to think its some kind of witchcraft…"

" But Jesse- I love him…"

" If you love him you'll leave him…"

" Jesse…how in the world am I going to explain to him why I don't age? And when he grows old I am still the same as we had met?"

" Winnie"

" Jesse shut up!" Winnie screamed as she pushed him away. She ran away from the dock and back home…It was as if a chaotic vortex was going through her brain…everything was happening so fast all at once and everything was going wrong…