What if...

Chapter 4: To the Pond

Scout walked back outside and grabbed Arthur's hand. "Come on Boo, I'll show ya where the pond is." She offered. Arthur smiled and followed her to the pond. Soon he was looking down into the water. Scout sat next to him taking off her socks and shoes. "You gotta take off your socks and shoes Boo." Then she looked at his shoes. "Hmm. But I guess since your's are all muddy, you can wear 'em in the pond." She said. Scout walked into the water and Arthur continued to look at it nervously. "Come on, Boo. It's not that bad." She assured. He stepped one foot into the water. The cold water seeped into his shoe and eventually his sock. He watched as the mud that was once on his shoe swirled around his foot. Then he slowly put his other foot in the water. The mud swirled around him and he felt a skip in his heart. One he hadn't felt since Scout first found the gifts in the tree. Arthur looked at Scout and smiled brightly. "See Boo, it ain't so bad." Then she bent down and splashed him. Arthur jumped then looked at her, and splashed her back. She squealed and jumped and jumped back a bit. Both Scout and Arthur laughed. Scout grabbed Arthur's hand, then used all her strength and pulled Arthur into the water. His arms caught him before he fell face first. Scout was laughing hysterically as he grabbed her legs and tripped her. She fell on her butt, and was still laughing. She splashed water at Arthur, who splashed her back. Scout began to swim into the deeper part of the pond, Arthur followed her slowly. They stood up, the water about waist deep to Arthur, Scout did her best to stand. They continued to splash each other and run around the best they could in the water. Scout loved the way Arthur laughed, especially now since she could hear it. It was a kind and warm laugh that should be used more often, so that became her goal.

The sun started to go down when Arthur and Scout finally walked out of the pond. "Whoa, we were here all day." Scout said in disbelief. They watched as the sun went down, and the air around them cooled. Scout started to shiver, as they watched the sun sink. Arthur put his arms around her like a father would to his freezing child. "Mr Arthur, why did you come out?" Scout asked.
"Call me Arthur." He whispered. Scout jumped and looked up at him, obviously she wasn't expecting an answer. "Nathan kicked me out. He found out what happened on Halloween." He explained. Scout looked at him with a sad expression.
"Maybe Atticus'll let you stay at our house for a while." Scout offered. Arthur smiled.
"That would be nice." Arthur said, then he looked at the sun, which was gold now. "I hope Atticus doesn't get mad at me for keepin' you out for too long." Arthur said.
"He won't be mad, Arthur." Scout said. Scout grabbed Arthur's hand and they stood up. "Let's go home." She said. "Are you hungry, Arthur?" She asked.
"Yes." He said.
"Maybe you'll finally meet Jem face to face." Scout said as they began to walk down the dark road.
"Yeah, I felt bad for leaving without meeting him."
"I never got the chance to tell him who saved us. Seeing you'll shock him. Why did you save Jem and I yesterday?" Scout asked. Arthur laughed a little and looked at the ground, but he kept walking.
"I've done some pretty bad things when I was younger." He said. "But I could live with them. If I didn't save you and Jem, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. You two were the only ones I had. Seeing you to play and grow was the only way I could find happiness. Leaving you gifts in the trees...seeing your reactions to them... Scout, there's no better gift than giving." Arthur said, looking at Scout when he said the last sentence.
"You gave us a lot, Arthur. But, Jem and I didn't give you anything back." She said, shaking her head.
"Scout, you and Jem gave me happiness. That was all I really needed at the time. And when I needed it most, you gave me friend, Scout." Arthur smiled at the young girl. She smiled back, then yawned. Arthur picked her up, bridal style, and carried her home.

A/N: .....;-;......