Prettyinpinkgal: Chapter Two's finally up! Woot! I'm sorry it took a while, as it is with all my stories, with school starting and all…. Anyway, please enjoy! By the way, I'm really sorry if the grandmother had died in the book, it's been a while since I've read it, and I can't remember if she passed away or not. But in this fic, she is alive.

Thanks to:

Julia: Thanks!

Angry Girl: I'm glad you do! I can't wait to write that scene, when the two girls meet. That'll be interesting :). I always would get so mad when I'd read the ending of the book again or watch the movie. She'd have a much better life with the Tucks, and I'm sure that the dude she married wasn't out of love.

Strawberry-Shortcake01: Thanks! Yeah, I don't like those either. You just can't replace Winnie!

Neva: Thank you!

Lilcutie Angel: Thank you for your review!

Franny: Thanks! Tuck Everlasting is probably one of the best novels out there, in my opinion :)

Jewelspiritmon: Thank you very much!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tuck Everlasting. If I did, I would make sure that they would say, "Winnie didn't die and she and Jesse lived happily ever after." Or something like that. :)

FOSTER EVERLASTING

CHAPTER TWO: MAGIC

"WINIFRED!" Winnie winced as she heard the cry. She was working on her sewing, uncomplaining for once, (she wanted to enjoy her life as it was before she had to leave her family) and walked to the steps.

"Yes, Grandmother?" she asked.

"Please come down, and make sure you look decent!" her grandmother called.

Wondering what it could be, she straightened the wrinkles on her dress, and headed downstairs. She had heard the door open before she made it down to the bottom step. A man's voice was heard, and suddenly she had a very sickening feeling.

She walked into the sitting room where her father, mother, grandmother, and the man were sitting. The man had jet-black hair, and appeared to be in his mid-twenties. 'Please, no,' she thought. Even though it would never pull through, if she was right about what this was about, it would still be incredibly uncomfortable. Unfortunately, her suspicions soon proved correct.

"Ah, Winifred, you're here. This is James Kendal. His father is a dear friend of mine." Her father sent her a "Don't Do Anything That Will Embarrass Me" look.

Winnie did a slight curtsy, to be polite. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kendal."

"Please, call me James, Miss Foster." He was dashing, and when he grinned at her, it was the type of smile that would make any girl faint.

Any girl, that is, except for Winnie Foster.

"Of course. And you may call me Winnie."

Her mother started. "Winnie is such a silly name though, dear," she said quickly, feeling that such a name as Winnie was something a commoner would be named, and wanted to make sure that her proper name, Winifred, was used constantly.

"Very well, Winnie," James said, as if Winnie's mother had not spoken. Winnie beamed in her mind. This fellow wasn't too bad.

With a slight sigh, Winnie's grandmother spoke. "Winifred, this young man is of a fine family, and is very wealthy. It would be a fine match, you and Mr. Kendal here."

'Drat it all! So that IS what this is about!' Winnie, not about to show her true feelings, kept her mask on. "I'm dreadfully sorry, James, but I do not wish to wed you."

Her father glared. "Don't be ridiculous, Winifred! You WILL marry him!"

Winnie turned to look at him. "I apologize, Father, but I will NOT marry him. I am sorry, James, and the woman who does marry you will be very lucky indeed, but I am not that woman. I don't love you, or even know you, hardly."

"I'm sorry, but could you please come and visit another day? I am sure that Winifred will have a new look on this proposal by then," the elderly woman said.

Once James was out the door, Winnie said, "I won't marry him. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't. First of all, I love Jesse Tuck. Secondly, I barely know James. And thirdly, I probably won't be here at the time of the wedding!" Winnie stormed up the stairs and slowly climbed onto her bed, her thoughts racing.

'Did I do the right thing, drinking the water?'

'What if I can't find Jesse?'

'Will he still love me?'

Winnie looked out of the window, and onto the street. To her surprise, she saw a toad there. 'That's my toad…' she thought. She hadn't seen it since she was ten, but she knew instantaneously that that was her dear, cherished pet. Looking at it, immune to any dangers the world had to offer, gave her hope and courage. That little toad was bravely out there, so why should she be so scared?

"I can do this." She slowly smiled. "I can do this!"

She decided that when the time comes, she'll live in the Tucks' old house in the woods. When the Tucks come back, they'll definitely have a homecoming!

The time soon came, as weeks turned into months. Her family grew suspicious that the seventeen-year-old hadn't grown at all since her birthday. Eventually, her grandmother passed away. They all grieved, and it gave Winnie an eerie feeling. She'll never move on. She will always be Winnie, the girl who will never grow old. The girl who will never die.

Eventually, her parents confronted her. "Winifred, why won't you grow?" they cried.

Soon after, Winnie left. She brought her most cherished belongings and clothes and left a note behind. This is what it read:

Dear Mother and Father,

I am so sorry I have to do this to you, but I have no choice. I must go. I love you both so much. Please understand.

I wish I could say we will meet again, but I'm afraid that's a lie. But always know that I love you both dearly.

Your daughter,

Winnie