Along came Reid

21. Sweet Simplicity

The walk out to the farms proved far more relaxing considering her prior circumstances. Actually, the warm sun on her cheeks and the cool breeze at her back as Jamie strolled along the dirt path was downright therapeutic. For the first time in years, Jamie wasn't afraid that a deader would shamble out of the woods to try and eat her whole.

"You're smiling." Reid noted, nudging her shoulder with his arm.

Jamie paused. Sure enough she felt the tingle in her cheeks from her lifted lips. "Huh. I guess I am."

"You're happy?" he asked, nudging her once more.

"Weird right? I'm in the worst possible of circumstances." she answered nudging him back albeit a little harder. Reid gave her a devilish grin before nudging back too, with enough force to upset her step.

"Yeah, you just faced the strongest vampires in North America." he reminded.

"Well, aren't you strong too?" Jamie asked, this time giving Reid a gentle shove, not that he really moved. Compared to her, Reid was like built like a high-end fridge without wheels.

"Maybe." he answered before sweeping her from her feet with his arm and lifting her until she sat on his shoulder. At first Jamie squirmed but then decided to just go with it, using the top of his head as an armrest.

"Well I know you're stronger than me. But what about them?" she wondered, softly rapping the top of his head with her knuckles.

"Well, I'm not weak."

"But are you stronger than them?"

Reid shrugged, causing her to bounce jerkily atop his shoulder. When her balance became unsteady, he shifted until she sat properly with her legs on either side of his neck. "Dunno." he answered truthfully.

"Think they'll kill you?"

"Prolly' not. But they might. I can't say... You'll be safe though."

"I didn't ask about me Reid." Jamie scolded, folding her arms atop his head. Despite being shortly shorn and spiky, his blond hair was surprisingly soft.

"I know." he answered with a soft sigh, patting her shin.

The walked in silence once more, passing through a grove of apple trees. "Hold on." Jamie said as she reached up to grab a low hanging fruit. Reid glanced up with a smile on his cheeks.

"Hungry?"

"Well I haven't eaten all day." Jamie remarked as she bit into the sweet crunchy fruit. She hadn't seen an apple in months. It tasted far better than anything she ever remembered.

"Grab a few then." Reid suggested, rocking upwards onto his tip-toes to give her leverage.

Jamie agreed and plucked a few more, stashing them in the pouch of her hoodie. "My dad and I used to do this." Jamie announced softly after they continued on.

"Carry you?"

"Yeah. When we visited my family in the country we went apple picking. He'd put me on his shoulders so I could reach the fruit."

Reid's step slowed to a stop. A soft breeze passed through the branches above them, dappling the afternoon sun across the downtrodden dirt path. "I'm really am sorry Bean." Reid breathed, his words spoken solemnly and slow. "I mean it."

Jamie sighed, and leaned forward, resting her chin atop her folded arms. "Yeah." she nodded, patting the top of his head. "I know you are."

"If I could go back and change everything, I–"