Author's Note: Hey, everyone! Welcome back to a new installment of Summer of Love. I had this chapter already written before, I just needed to get around to typing it…and at the same time, I worked on the next chapter.
Anyways, thank you to Guest for the review, but I will have to say this: This is my story, I decide what happens to Rosalie & Winnie. You'll get your answer in this chapter and the next one.
In other words, happy reading! Tuck Everlasting is not mine, I just own my OC Rosalie.
Chapter 11
And so, Winnie and Rosalie were back home with the Fosters. They are now sitting in the parlor room waiting to be interrogated by the judge.
"We just want to understand what happened." Robert said gently. "Winnie…Rosalie, try, please."
The two girls hesitated and exhaled, before sharing looks. Rosalie gave her cousin a look as if to say, "go ahead" and nodded.
Winnie faces her parents and the judge.
"They didn't kidnap us. We were with them because we wanted to." She answered.
Mrs. Foster snaps her fan, closing it. "She doesn't know what she's saying."
"Oh, yes she does!" Rosalie snapped, glaring at her aunt.
"Rose," Robert warned.
"The Tucks were kind to us." Winnie continued on. "They're our friends."
"If they didn't kidnap you both, why on earth did that woman club that man over the head with a shotgun?" Robert questioned, wanting to know.
"Because Mae Tuck was protecting Rose." Winnie replied.
"That disgusting creep of a man held a gun to my head!" Rosalie interjected. "If it weren't for Mae, I could have been hurt or worse!"
She shuddered at the memory of the man in the yellow suit grabbing her from Miles, and how he pointed a gun at her head. The thought of what he was going to do to Rosalie after he found the spring, gave her goosebumps.
"Doesn't matter anyway," said the judge. "That fella died. It's a murder charge now. I didn't much like the man but that won't stop that poor woman from hanging. Misses are eyewitnesses. They'll have to testify."
"Oh, my God." Mrs. Foster leaves the room, for she looked like she was going to faint at any moment.
"Wow," Rosalie commented sarcastically pinching her nose.
Soon after, Robert and the judge walked out the door, Winnie and Rosalie went up to their room. They sat on Winnie's bed, quiet.
"I miss them, Rosie." Winnie said.
"Me too," Rosalie responded. "But we're going to get through this, okay?"
Winnie nodded and they embraced, hugging. The duo sits still.
That early afternoon, Rosalie snuck out of the house and headed into the woods. She located the spring, where her and Winnie had met Jesse and then got abducted by Miles. A dreamy expression appeared on Rosalie's face as she thought of the person whom she started out bickering with; but then grew to love.
Snapping out of her trance, Rosalie walked up to the spring and filled a flask with the water. Part of her wanted to drink from the spring and the other part of her didn't want to act hasty. She wanted to at least think it over and help Winnie to get through these hurdles that lied ahead.
During the night hours, thunder rumbled and wind was blowing outside. The girls did their best to sleep through it.
"Winnie, Rosalie!" Two familiar voices called out.
The Fosters turned around to see Jesse and Miles at their window.
"Jesse!" Winnie exclaimed, getting out of bed.
"Miles!" Rosalie rushed over, following her cousin.
"I was afraid I would never see you again." Winnie said to Jesse.
"What on earth are you two doing here?" Rosalie asks.
"We need you both to help us," Jesse replied.
"Mae can't go to the gallows," Miles added. "She won't die."
"They're going to find out our secret," Jesse interjected.
"So, we'll have to get them out," said Winnie.
Miles nodded.
"You girls just throw something on and move quickly. Jesse and I will wait outside. We'll talk more about the plan." He instructed.
Rosalie agrees. "We're on it."
Miles and Jesse walk away from the window. Without hesitation, Winnie threw on a cover up while Rosalie slipped on a dressing gown. The elder cousin grabbed the flask containing the spring water and dropped it into her pocket.
Quickly, Rosalie and Winnie went downstairs very quietly, careful not to disturb the adults. They snuck out of the house and met the Tuck brothers.
On the way to the sheriff's office, Jesse and Miles took turns explaining their plan to the girls: They were going to pretend they're pursuing them, and while they distracted the night guard; one girl would free Mae and Angus and the other kept watch.
"You two ready?" Miles asks, as he and Jesse put on their traveling clothes.
"Yes," Winnie responded.
"Together on three," Rosalie said to her cousin. "One, two…three!"
Immediately, the duo took off running, heading towards the station. They go and rapidly knocked on the door, yelling and hollering.
"Help us!" Winnie cried.
"Wake up!" Rosalie screamed.
"Please, help us!" Winnie shouted. "Somebody!"
"Anybody, hello!" Rosalie yelled.
Deputy Logan reluctantly rubbed his eyes and got up. "All right,"
"Help us, please!"
Logan walked over and opened the door.
"Pl…please! Help us! You have to stop them!" Winnie pleaded.
"They're after us!" Rosalie added.
"Miss F…Miss Fo…Who's after you two?" Logan inquired, tired.
"The people who kidnapped us! They're going to take us away again! My parents couldn't stop them! They're right outside!" Winnie screamed.
"We beg of you, do something!" Rosalie cried. "If you don't, they'll hurt us bad!"
"You have to stop them, please! Help!"
Logan grabs for his gun.
"They'll kill us if they find us! Please, they're going to kill us, please!"
"Save us, please!" Rosalie wept.
"Stay right there!" Logan commanded. "I'll handle this,"
He leaves to go outside.
"Hurry!
Both Rosalie and Winnie shared looks and grinned cheekily at each other.
"Help!" Winnie called, smiling.
"Police! Murder!" Rosalie added for dramatic emphasis.
"Go free Angus and Mae, I'll stand guard." She advised her cousin.
"Right away," Winnie heads for the jail cells.
Rosalie gets into a corner and peeked from the side, as Deputy Logan went outside to deal with Miles and Jesse. She had to give the two boys credit, for they looked rather intimidating in the dark clothes they wore. Rosalie's heart fluttered, at the sight of Miles. She thought he looked rather dashing right there.
The boys stepped closer.
"Come out and meet your doom!" Jesse called out. "Hell is upon you!"
Rosalie had to cover her mouth, to conceal her scoff at Jesse's choice of words.
"Stop right there!" Logan shouted. "You're under arrest!"
Both Miles and Jesse had their swords drawn out. Meanwhile, Winnie found Mae and Angus. She rushes over to free them.
"Come on, we have to hurry." Winnie said. "The boys are outside and Rosalie's standing guard." She began to unlock the doors.
Outside…
"Stay back, now! I'll shoot!" Logan yelled.
Without hesitation, he shot Jesse twice (who yelped). Miles opens his jacket giving the deputy a chance to shoot him. Logan wasted no time in shooting Miles twice. He fell on the ground, lying next to Jesse. Rosalie flinched, it gave her goosebumps to see Miles get shot again. The two brothers laid still for a moment and then got back on their feet.
Startled by this sudden action, Logan ran off in fright.
"And he came so highly recommended," Rosalie muttered sarcastically.
"All clear," She said to Mae and Angus, who entered the room with Winnie.
The group of four went outside to join Miles and Jesse. The eldest Tuck began to get the horses and cart ready.
"My dear, sweet Winnie and Rosalie." Mae said, hugging the girls. "What I wouldn't do to keep you both. I wish you were ours…for Jesse and Miles. For all of us."
"You have to hurry and get away from here." Winnie advised, crying.
"Winnie…" Jesse rushes over to Winnie as Mae joined Angus on the cart.
"Winnie, come with me." He persuaded. "There's nothing for you here. We can be together forever."
"If she comes with us, they'll hunt us down." Angus pointed out. "They'll never stop looking."
"Tuck is right," Winnie agreed. "If I go with you it'll be too dangerous for all of you."
"I can't go without you," Jesse said convincingly, a pained expression on his face.
Weeping, Winnie kissed and hugged Jesse.
"You have to," She said sadly.
Jesse pulls away.
"Go back to the spring," He instructed. "Drink from it. When it's safe…I'll come back for you."
"Will you?" Winnie asks tearfully.
"I have to show you the Eiffel Tower, don't I?" Jesse questioned.
"1,652 steps to the top." Winnie answered.
"Winnie…until we're together again…wake up with the dawn." Jesse added.
"I will," Winnie replied.
Rosalie, who had been listening to Jesse and Winnie, glanced over at Miles, Mae and Angus. In that moment, she had made up her mind; knowing that for the first time since her parents died…she had finally discovered what it's like to have a family. She couldn't bear to be separated from them, especially after all that time spent with the Tucks; which made her feel whole again.
"Listen to me, Winnie." Rosalie said to Winnie, putting her hands-on Winnie's arms. "I'm sorry to leave you like this, but I…don't think I'll be staying here in Tree gap."
Every single Tuck family member turned to look at Rosalie.
Rosalie felt her cheekbones tighten and tears beginning to prick at her eyes.
"Do you wish to come with us?" Angus questioned.
"Yes," Rosalie responded. "Besides, my parents are dead. Also, I feel much happier and at peace with all of you."
"Rose," Mae began to say. "Keep in mind, you can't come back to Tree gap for a long, long time; should you choose to go with us. Plus, there's a risk your aunt and uncle will look for you."
"I know that," said Rosalie. "But what's the point of staying here when I love Miles?"
Miles's ears perked up at Rosalie's statement. He got down from his horse and walked over to her.
"You mean it?" He asks. "You really love me?"
Rosalie nodded. "To the moon and back,"
She stood on the tip of her toes and kissed Miles on his lips. Miles kisses her back and then let go.
"I love you too," He said.
Rosalie smiles and then turned to address Winnie.
"Remember the conversation we had before about wanting a guy to love and knowing when you find the right one?" She asked.
Winnie nodded.
"Well, I found the right one. He's been through so much and I can't have him suffer that ever again. I'm choosing to spend eternity with Miles." Rosalie answers.
Reaching into her dressing gown's pocket, she took the flask out.
"What's in there?" Miles asked.
"The water from the spring," Rosalie replied.
"Remember, Rosalie…" Angus warned. "Once you drink that water, you'll be stuck just the way you are permanently."
"I understand that completely, Tuck." Rosalie replied with a hint of firmness in her tone. "I've made up my mind and I'm sticking to it. I wish to spend the rest of my life with all of you."
With that, she began to drink the water from the flask. Miles was right, the water did taste like heaven, it floated right over Rosalie's tongue like a cloud. She exhaled after she finished drinking.
"I want to thank for being there for me, through thick and thin, after losing my mother and father. And for being like a sister to me. I will always be your cousin and forever grateful to you." Rosalie said to Winnie. "If my aunt and uncle ask about me, tell them I ran away and never came back."
Winnie nodded and the Fosters hugged each other tightly, as tears rolled down their cheeks.
"Hey," Miles said tenderly, touching Rosalie's arm. "We have to go…before it's too late; Rose."
Rosalie and Winnie pulled away.
"Goodbye, Winnie and take care." Rosalie said softly.
"Goodbye, Rosie. You take care as well," Winnie replied softly.
Slowly but surely, they let go of their hands. Rosalie got on Miles's horse, sitting in front of him. More tears slid onto her cheeks and she wiped them away.
Angus snaps the straps. As the Tucks and Rosalie took off, Jesse hollered "Winnie Foster…I will love you till the day I die!"
Rosalie rode to a new life with the entire Tuck clan, never looking back. Though it broke her heart to leave Winnie behind, she knew deep down, she'd belong to a loving family; for always and eternity.
A/N: And there you have it!
As I was writing the story, I had made up my mind that Rosalie would choose to go with the Tucks and be immortal. I didn't want to reveal it right away, I wanted it to be a surprise.
Anyways, in the next chapter, we'll check in on Winnie following the Tucks' and Rosalie's departure from Tree gap. The chapter will contain elements from the 2002 film and book.
Also, the story is winding down, only three chapters left. More to come!