I don't own.

Your traditional cheesy 'she's alive' story. But it's just too cute, dontcha think?

I must have been watching him there for hours. Jesse, my Jesse, was staring down at my gravestone which he believed I was underneath. It tore my heart out to hear his sobs.

He had arrived just a few days ago in town, I saw him across the street from my job at the old coffee shop. Of course I couldn't just run up to him, as much as I desperately wanted to, and tell him I was alive. That would cause too big of a scene. Instead, I decided, I would wait for the perfect moment, when I could confront him alone. I had figured that one day soon he would go back to the old estate to see me, and sure enough he did, just not, at the moment at least, the me he wanted to see.

The past 3 days, I had gone to bed trying to remember what his voice sounded like, what his touch felt like, and what our love felt like. And now I would have the chance to remember all 3. I just had to work up the courage to come out of my hiding spot behind the tree.

Here goes…

"Winnie, I absolutely hate myself for not coming back sooner," Jesse said angrily. I paused, 10 steps away from him. And I hate myself for not going to find him, I thought.

His sobs got lighter now, he must be getting ready to leave. Quick, Winnie! I thought. Come on before it's too late!

"Well, well, well, Jesse Tuck," I said half playfully/half nervously. "I believe you are very, very late."

I saw his head turn up, but his body still faced away from me.

I started to smile.

"I realize the Eiffel Tower isn't going anywhere, but I would like to get those 1665 steps over with as soon as possible," I added a little more playfulness to my voice.

He stood up, slowly turning around, meeting my eyes. He still looked like the same Jesse Tuck from all those years ago, obviously. We just stared at each other for a good minute until something in each of us clicked. It was like the final realization that we were truly staring at our soul mate who we had found and left long ago.

I ran up to him, to get a better look at him, to take in his features, everything about him that I had forgotten. Then as if we thought the other was as fragile as glass, I touched his arm and he touched my face. In silence, he moved his face, his lips, closer to me, lightly brushing them against mine before kissing me lightly.

I couldn't believe it, he was here. My Jesse Tuck, who I had spent all this time waiting for, was here. I was still in shock. But as much as I could just stay in his arms all day, I believed that I owed quite a big explanation. Reluctantly, I broke away from the kiss, slowly of course though.

Before I said anything I just smiled and touched my forehead to his, my eyes closed.

"Winnie, I can't believe it's you, after all this time! I kept coming back but you were never here," Jesse whispered. "but we are both here now, and that's all that matters." He planted a quick kiss on my lips, a smile growing on his face as well.

"I can't believe it's really you either," I replied quietly, happy tears forming in my eyes. "I thought you had forgotten about me."

He grabbed my face in his hands and pulled it back a little so our eyes met.

"No, of course I could never forget you, Winnie. I hate myself for letting you think that at all. I could never forget about you," He hugged me tightly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Jesse," I whispered, tears beginning to roll down my cheeks. "Forever."