Author's Note: So many things to say! First of all, thank you for the kind reviews. I appreciate all of them very much. I know that everyone is having trouble waiting for each new segment, but please have patience. From here on out, it is critical that I get everything just right, so you will understand if I don't update as quickly.

Yes, flutterby, there is a Tuck Everlasting soundtrack, as I was informed by Jenna Michelle a few days ago (BTW, you should all read her story, Reunited.). I do not own it yet, but it is probably very good, and I'm sure it has cute pictures from the movie in the liner notes.

In response to the remark that I should write my own stories, I will say that I do write original works. Two of them are posted on this site; you can find them by going to my Author ID page. This is, in fact, the first time that I have ever written a story based on someone else's characters and plot, and I am having a lot of fun with it.

And, finally, to everyone. Yes, there will be some romance in this story and, yes, it will be between Jesse and Winnie. Good things come to those who wait…

Chapter Twenty-one: Reunion

Miles returned to his workshop to inform his assistant that he would be gone for the rest of the afternoon. When he had done that, Jesse and Jeremiah began loading the wagon with goods that Miles had bought earlier from the general store. While they were busying talking, Winnie pulled Miles aside for a talk.

"There's something I have to tell you," she whispered, her eyes darting over to the wagon.

"What is it?"

"Well…it's about Jeremiah."

"What about him?" Miles's eyes grew large and he reached a hand out to touch her arm. "Did he hurt you? What did he-"

Winnie cut Miles off before he could go any further. "No, of course not! Keep your voice down. I don't want him to hear us." She sneaked another glance at the wagon and could tell that the boys were almost finished. "I told them that you were my family."

Miles narrowed his eyes in confusion. "You told him what?"

"I said that you all were my family. You…and I guess Jesse, too…you're supposed to be my brothers. I suppose Mae and Tuck are…well, I guess they're parents." Winnie saw Miles's eyebrows raise and rushed to explain. "I didn't know what else to tell him, so I had to make something up. It was all I could think of."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure he won't notice. I'll just be careful not to say anything strange during dinner." He paused and Winnie would have sworn that he smirked. "I guess I'll have to tell Jesse, too."

"Yes, that's probably best."

Miles patted Winnie on the arm as he walked away. "Don't worry about it, okay? I'll take care of it." Winnie nodded and watched him walk over to the wagon to adjust the horse's reins. Her eyes floated back to Jesse, who was still talking to Jeremiah at the back of the wagon. His lips moved with ease as he talked, and Winnie wondered suddenly what it would be like to feel those lips against her own. The thought was fleeting, but its affect was less subtle. Winnie blushed furiously and looked at the ground, where she pretended to be very interested in her shoes. Finally, she couldn't help herself and looked back at Jesse. She was surprised and embarrassed to see him looking at her, but he glanced back at Jeremiah when she met his gaze.

After doing her best to comb her hair with her fingers and wash her face with spit, Winnie rejoined the boys by the wagon. Miles called Jesse over to help with the horse, leaving Winnie alone with Jeremiah. He smiled at her as she approached. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just walked thirteen miles wearing a pair of really thick socks."

Jeremiah laughed. "Yeah, I'd say you have a reason to be tired."

Winnie smiled appreciatively. "Are you staying in town tonight?"

"Yes, but Miles offered to let me eat supper with your family, and I accepted. I'll come back into town afterwards."

"You won't be staying at the house?"

Jeremiah shook his head. "No, my friend is expecting me. I would like to spend as much time with him as I can." He paused. "Are you going to be staying with your family for a while?"

Maybe longer than you know, Winnie thought. Instead she said, "Yes, for a while. I don't know how long."

Jeremiah started to say something, but Miles came up behind them before he could speak. "Can you hand me that rope?"

Jeremiah fetched the rope and gave it to Miles. "Is everything all right?"

"Just having some trouble with the horse. He's…old." Miles glanced over at Winnie, who tried to keep a straight face. Jeremiah didn't notice.

"Here, let me help." The two disappeared behind the side of the wagon, leaving Winnie alone with her thoughts. However, that left her quite lonely, since her thoughts were too jumbled to give her any comfort. Instead, she leaned against the back of the wagon and stared up at the sky. It was strange to think that when the sun rose that morning, she was despairing over finding her friends. Being with them felt odd, but somehow natural, as if they had never parted.

The boys were finally able to fix the problem with the horse, and they set off towards the Tuck cabin, which was located in the forest on the edge of town. Winnie sat in the front with Miles, leaving Jesse and Jeremiah to watch after the food in the back. She felt a tinge of disappointment that she would not be able to spend time with Jesse, but dismissed it quickly. There will be time for that later, she scolded herself. After all, it isn't as though you're in a hurry.

Miles remained quiet during the trip, and Winnie was glad that she didn't have to answer questions about why she left home. It would be awkward to describe her indecision about drinking the water, and she didn't feel comfortable talking with Miles about her feelings for his brother. Besides, she didn't know how he would feel about the two of them being together in the first place. He may hate the idea of them starting a romantic relationship because of the unfortunate ending of his own marriage. Winnie felt a rush of pity thinking of Miles and his beloved, frightful wife and did not look at him for the rest of the journey for fear that her thoughts would be written all over her face.

After traveling for about half of an hour through the woods, the wagon came over a large hill, and a small wooden cottage came into view. It sat on the edge of a beautiful lake with a long deck that stretched out into the middle and was buffered on both sides by trees. The house looked very similar to the Tuck's old cottage, only it appeared slightly smaller, at least from the outside. The wraparound porch stretched all the way around the house and was completed by a pair of rocking chairs covered in quilts.

The wagon stopped a few yards from the porch. Miles jumped down and helped Winnie from her seat in front, then began to untie the horse. Jesse and Jeremiah hopped out of the back and began to unload the food. When he had finished with the horse, Miles led it over to a tree, where he retied it. "Mother!" he shouted as he made the last knot. "Mother, come outside!"

Seconds later, the cottage door flew open and Mae Tuck emerged, looking worried and out of breath. Her light hair was held up in a bun, but a few renegade strands clung to her cheeks. She wore a simple blue dress and a white apron that looked like it was stained with jam. "What on earth is wrong?"

Miles stepped forward and motioned for Winnie to do the same. She obeyed, but trailed behind him uncertainly. "Nothing is wrong, Mother," he said calmly. "I just wanted to see our guests."

Mae looked at Winnie then and squinted. Miles placed his hand on her shoulder and led her up the steps so that his mother could get a better look. Mae smiled at the girl at first, but her face soon registered recognition. She gasped loudly and leaned forward as if to be sure that she wasn't imagining things. "Winnie? Is that you?"

Winnie nodded and was immediately enveloped in a tight hug that forced the air from her lungs. When Mae finally released her, a huge smile had formed on her face. "Oh, child! Is it really you?" Before Winnie could respond, the door opened again to reveal Tuck, who looked just as concerned as his wife had moments before.

"What is all this fuss about? Is something wrong?" Tuck looked from Miles to Mae, who was still clutching Winnie's arm for assurance of her tangibility. His eyes settled on Winnie and she could tell that he knew who she was. No flashes of recognition were necessary because he already knew.

"Oh, isn't it wonderful? Our Winnie is home! After all these years, isn't it wonderful?" Mae looked at her husband excitedly, but he did not return the sentiment. Instead, he looked at Winnie again and nodded.

"Yes, that's something all right. I'll go set an extra place for supper." Without another glance at either of them, he turned and went back into the house. Winnie felt a tinge of hurt at his lack of joy, but Mae did not seem to notice.

"Oh, Winnie! I am just so glad that you're here. It just seems like such a miracle!" Winnie smiled at the older woman, but Miles cut her off before she could go on.

"Mother, I'm afraid you're being rude to our other guest." Winnie and Mae turned to see Jesse and Jeremiah approaching the wooden steps. "This is my friend, Jeremiah. He's the one who escorted Winnie into town."

Mae greeted Jeremiah warmly, though Winnie was afraid that her own reception was more lavish. He smiled and shook her hand while she gushed over how glad she was to see him. A silence settled over the group while Mae shook her head and looked from Winnie to Jeremiah and back to Winnie again. The action reminded Winnie of Miles when he first greeted his friends and she smiled at the memory. Mother and son were more alike than they possibly realized.

Mae put her hand on Winnie's shoulder and began leading her toward the door. As they filed into the house, Mae could not help but elaborate on her excitement one more time. "Two guests in one night! Why, this is surely something to celebrate."