I made it a point not to mention Atticus again after that. Even though my observations about the man rang true, I had no right putting her father down like that in front of her. I knew her love for him ran deep into the core of her being despite all he put her through. All I ever said about him during my time in New York only added salt into her fresh wounds.

We hardly got back into the swing of things when it was time to go back to Maycomb again. This time both of us would be going and I could tell there was a hint of uneasiness about this. I could understand why Scout would be apprehensive: she got her heart broken in the summer and fell in love with another man in the fall. She still has no idea that her engagement ring is tucked away in a safe place in my suitcase. I haven't been this excited about Christmas in a long time.

The goddamned alarm clock woke us up at four-thirty in the morning. I will never like getting up early, I reckon. The only good thing about waking up to that was Scout rolling over to give me a neck kiss. Those are worth living for.

"Come on, Dill," she said as she rolled the covers off me. She is not nice.

"I'll come on, ya," I say with a frog in my throat.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"Shut up!"

I heard her laugh all the way into the shower. That was the one thing that could make me hop out of bed. I tore off my pajamas and skipped into the shower to find her sitting on the edge of the shower floor as if she was expecting me.

"Get up," I ordered, gently.

She did as she was told and wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her back and kissed her temple. Without letting go of her, I turned her around and let the warm water wet her hair. She kissed me sweetly and then I let her go to get the shampoo.

"Don't let it get in my eyes," she said as I began to massage the shampoo in her hair.

"I won't," I said as I was done lathering her up. She then took some of the suds off her own head and rubbed my hair with them.

"You do for me and I'll do for you," she said.

"Thank you."

Nothing more exciting then taking a shower with your partner. I think she feels the same way. Don't even get me started on the body wash. It's even better than sex; you're literally taking care of each other in the shower. We were in a giddy mood for the rest of the morning. I think our taxi driver thought we were high on something. It's called life and love, bud.

"I'm happy you're okay with riding on a plane," I told her as I held her hand in the back of the taxi.

"I don't care as long as I have you with me," she said as she rubbed my knuckles with her thumb.

"I want to promise you, something," I told her.

"Promise me what?"

"I will treat Atticus like I know nothing."

"You're as bad as I am."

"Why do you say that?"

"Like me, you don't know where you'd be without him either. You know he shaped your life as much as he shaped mine."

"Damn, you're good."

"Okay, lovebirds," our taxi driver said as we pulled into Lagaurdia. Scout blushed and I just laughed. "Here's the airport."

"Thanks," I said as I handed him a wad of cash and Scout began to grab our luggage.

This was it, I thought as we entered the airport. A new chapter of our relationship was unfolding right now as we knew it. Through our ticket handling, security and baggage check and finally boarding, we were silent. We both knew something big was on the horizon for us but only I knew how much. I felt her tense up a bit when the plane finally took off but she calmed down once I was holding her hand. She smiled at me and I smiled at her right before I kissed her again.

"I had a dream about us last night," she said out of nowhere.

"What was it about?"

"We got married."

"Did we really?"

"Yes."

"Tell me all about it."

"I was as nervous as hell but I saw you at the altar and you looked so handsome. I knew I was going to be okay."

"I was, huh?"

"Very much so."

"What did you look like?"

"It's hard to say; I couldn't really see myself."

"You didn't look down at your dress?"

"I did. I think you were pleased."

"Did Atticus give you away?"

"Yes and he was happy because I was happy."

"Was Jem there?"

"Yes and he was very happy, too."

"Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jack?"

"Actually, no. That's all right, though."

"How did it feel when it was all over and I kissed you?"

"Like I could walk on air."

I took her face in my hands and kissed her. I love her so much.

"We'll get there someday," I whispered, not letting go of her beautiful face. "I promise."

She had no idea. We sat back and smiled as we traveled to a far away place that I haven't been to in a long, long time.