Hi guys! This definitely isn't a one-shot. :) It's going to have several chapters, although I'm not really sure how many as of yet. I've gotten a better feel for writing Mockingbird fic, as far as how to better depict the characters and everything. I'm quite pleased with how this first chapter turned out.

This is set the year after Jem broke his arm; in other words, the summer of the next year. I've decided to have Boo Radley come out occasionally and talk to them, because it seemed as if, at the end of the book, he'd be that kind of character. That'll help y'all understand when I mention saying goodbye to Boo and things of the like.

I'll hush now and just let you read the first chapter. :)

By the way, I definitely don't take credit for any of these characters. They all belong to the amazing Harper Lee. :D

"Scout!" Dill ran through the yard, cleared the fence, and found me sitting on the back steps with Jem, enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

"Well God almighty, Dill, whatcha fussin' about?" Jem asked, leaning lazily against the banister behind him.

"Yeah, for cryin' out loud, what 'n Sam holy Hill you doin', tearin' 'cross the lawn like that? Dill Harris, I have never seen you clear that fence in my entire life!" I said indignantly, folding my arms across my chest. "Now what's goin' on?"

"I hafta go home first thing in the mornin'," he explained, once he caught his breath. "Aunt Rachel is going away to visit relatives someplace...or somethin'. I dunno, but anyway, I hafta go home first thing in the mornin', so I had ta come say goodbye."

My expression turned remorseful. "Oh, well, then...sorry," I said, apologizing for making such a fuss at his ruckus.

"Yeah, 'm sorry too," Jem echoed.

"I don't want you to go!" I cried, leaping up and throwing my arms around Dill. "Summer just started, an'..an'...you won't even get to say 'bye to Boo.."

His lips formed a frown on his face. "Yeah, I know. But there ain't anything I can do about it.."

I sighed, and Jem echoed my sigh. Dill followed immediately thereafter with a sigh of his own, and sat down on the steps. We were quiet for so long that Atticus came out and was surprised to see that we were still there. "What's wrong?" he asked, looking from Dill, to Jem, then to me.

"I'm goin' home first thing tomorrow mornin', Mr. Finch," Dill explained. "And none of us are feelin' real good 'bout it."

Atticus shook his head. "Is school starting early this year for you, Dill?"

"No, sir...Miss Rachel is going away to visit relatives," he answered. "So I'm going back home 'till summer's over."

Atticus put his hand in his watchpocket, absentmindedly checked the time, then leaned against the banister and looked down at the three of us. "Well, Dill, if Miss Rachel and your parents concede to this agreement, how about you stay here for the remainder of the summer vacation?"

I was used to Atticus's will and testament dictum by this time, but I think it almost took Dill by surprise; he wasn't really prepared for that kind of statement, it seemed. "Why, that'd be great, Mr. Finch!" he said eagerly.

And with that, Dill was running back through the yard, eager to ask Miss Rachel about his plan.