Love Everlasting

Chapter 2

Winnie stood over the sink, the cool water washing over her hands as she held a glass beneath it. She mindlessly turned it over, staring out of her small curtained window into the warm summer night. The fireflies buzzed lazily, and Winnie thought to herself about how some things in life never change. She could hear Jesse pacing behind her, and she tried to ignore the repetitive sounds of his shoes on the floorboard. She ran the dialogue of the evening through her head once more.

"How could he have been let out?" Miles had demanded, his fists shaking. Bill had looked agitated.

"He was given an official pardon by someone high up." He said, his shoulders slumping. Miles stiffened at this.

"That means he probably told our secret to someone with power." Miles remarked cautiously. Winnie stood from her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. Bill stood as well.

"We don't know for sure that he told anyone, and he certainly wouldn't know where to even start looking for you two." He said. Winnie felt a cold rush creep up her spine, despite the humid evening. She suddenly began racing through all the memories she had of that awful time in France when Von Kliest had been tracking them through the forests. Had he ever known about TreeGap? Did she ever slip up information about where she was from, when she was a prisoner? Did Jesse?

Jesse saw the worry of Winnie's face and put an arm around her shoulder. "He can't possibly know we are in this small town." Jesse said confidently, but his tone didn't assuage Winnie's fears.

"I just thought you all should know." Bill said, shifting on his feet. "I know you are all living pretty comfortably here, and I hate bringing up ghosts from the past, but I thought you should know." Miles turned to Bill, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets.

"We already are ghosts from the past, Bill." He said, shaking his head. "There's never really a time for us." Bill put his hand on Miles' shoulder, and sighed.

"Just be on your guard. I'm driving up to New York tonight for some business." Bill said, inching to the door. Miles followed him.

"The military still having you spy for them?" He asked. Bill cracked a smile.

"You know I cant tell you that, my friend." He said, then added with a wink, "Though I did have to hear about Von Kleist from somewhere I suppose." He gave Miles a quick hug, and shook Jesse's hand. Then Winnie approached him and he gave her a small kiss on each cheek.

"Still as lovely as ever Winnie Foster." He said, smiling down at her. Winnie could see the peppered grey in his brown hair, but she smiled at him, knowing that the both of them hadn't changed appearances in quite some time.

"Winnie Tuck," She corrected him, "and you still don't look a day over 40." He winked.

"Not bad for a man going on a hundred and thirty." He said with a laugh. Winnie looked around at the group in her living room. A group of immortals. She sighed, and gave him a quick hug before he left the room and she closed the door behind him. Miles had paced the floor, running his hands through his hair. Winnie knew he was worrying about his adopted daughter Claire.

"We don't have to tell Claire about Von Kleist." She said, crossing her arms. "She has enough to worry about with the baby on the way." Miles stopped pacing and looked at Winnie. He noticed a shadow over her face that revealed the wisdom of her years beneath her young face. He nodded.

"Probably for the best." He agreed. "After what that man did to her father back in the war..."

Jesse put his hand on his brother's arm. "She has you now." Jesse said, smiling. "And us, and her husband, and this baby on the way. She has a family because of you. Whatever Von Kleist took away from her, he can't take away any more." Miles looked at his brother and nodded, but his face still looked hard. Winnie took a step forward.