Here's chapter two! Thanks, KoalaBurr, for the fab review! I just loved the story you wrote. I hope you like this next chapter...man, this means I'll have to start on another one! winks This is so much fun to write. Hope you enjoy, and that goes for the rest of you as well!

Not long after, Jem and I went back into the house. Atticus had preceded us and was sitting in the living room, reading- what else- The Mobile Register. He looked up when we entered, smiled, and patted his lap. "Come here, Scout," he said, and I climbed into his lap. Jem sat down on the floor next to us, and Atticus entertained us for the remainder of the evening.

There was a knock on the door soon after we'd finished with the paper. Jem was flipping through a football magazine, and I was sleepily curled up in Atticus's arms. I had a feeling it was Dill, though, so I jumped out of his lap and headed over to the door. It was Dill, so I let him in.

"Hi guys," he said, grinning. "Mr. Finch, sir, Miss Rachel an' my parents said it was alright if I stayed here 'til I had to go back to school."

"Well, it will be a pleasure to have you, Dill," Atticus said, smiling warmly. "I'll come see Miss Rachel off in the morning before I leave for town, and we can make sure you have all your things."

Dill nodded. "Thanks much, Mr. Finch." His thanks was rewarded with a nod and a bright smile.

"I'm gonna walk Dill home, if that's okay, Atticus..." I said, turning around to him.

He smiled again at the two of us and nodded. "Go ahead, I'll be here when you return."

We walked outside into the muggy, southern summer air that was known to Maycomb in August. He took my hand as we headed across the backyard, and neither of us said much. Somehow, if either of us had said anything, it would have ruined the moment. As soon as we reached Dill's yard, though, he spoke up.

"I'm really glad I get ta stay for a few more weeks..."

"I am too, Dill," I answered, smiling. "It seems like there's so much yet we hafta do..."

"Whaddya mean?" he asked curiously.

"Well," I began, "We needa spend s'more time with Boo...act out a couple more plays...spend s'more time in the treehouse...just, you know, the normal end-of-summer things that we always do."

Dill smiled at me. "Yup, I guess there is a lot left ta do." We'd reached his porch by then, so he promptly leaned over and kissed me. "See you bright 'n early, Scout."

"See ya, Dill." I headed back across our yards and into the house. Jem was already in his room, but Atticus was still in the chair, waiting for me.

"Want me to tuck you in, honey?" he asked.

"I'd like that a lot," I said, smiling.

Atticus picked me up. "You know, you're getting pretty big."

"I don't like to think about that much," I said. "Aunty's gonna wanta make me be a lady."

Atticus laughed. "Let's not worry about that right now, baby. You just worry about bein' Scout, all right?"

I changed into my pajamas and sat down on the bed, and he slid me under the covers and pulled them up to my chin. "Sweet dreams," said Atticus, and kissed my forehead. I curled up under the covers, and he smiled at me and shut the door behind him. The last few weeks of summer were going to be good, I just knew it.

I woke up the next morning to sun streaming in the window, and I remembered that today was something special, but I wasn't particularly sure what that thing was. I laid there for a few minutes, stretching. Atticus knocked softly and entered.

"Good morning, honey," he said, smiling, when he saw I was awake. "Sleep all right?"

"Just fine, thanks, Atticus." I reached out my arms and he came over to me and picked me up, hugging me close for a moment then setting me down on the floor.

"Well, Cal's fixin' breakfast, so you might want to get ready so we can go get Dill from Miss Rachel's," he said, reminding me of why today was special.

"Oh, ok," I said, nodding and rubbing my eyes to rid them of the sleepiness.

Atticus kissed the top of my head. "See you in a few minutes, Scout." I smiled, looking forward to the day ahead.