The music currently playing in the background was causing her eyes to grow weary. It was late and she and Ichabod were unfortunately in attendance at one of her father and step-mother's parties.
The guests all consisted of people that she would rather not speak to, but out of politeness forced herself to anyway. Their ever enduring gossip and superiority, however, seemed to only worsen her mood as she plastered a less than true smile to her face.
Thankfully, her husband was taking care of most of the conversing. He was well aware that she was tired and in need of a little rescuing as they both feared her patience would slip at any time.
It had been a long day and she was more than ready to climb into her big bed with Ichabod and allow him to help her put it all behind her.
Their time together was always so precious. The idea of spending even a second of it in such a wasteful manner always bothered her to no end, but she also knew she couldn't exactly keep him locked up in their house the whole time either, no matter how much he begged her to do just that.
She was well aware of his love of conversation and refused to rob him of that in his time away from the war.
"Katrina, dear, why don't you move about the room and mingle? It's extremely rude of you to stand here and not speak to anyone."
Biting back the reply she would have loved to give her step-mother, she chose to simply nod instead.
"Of course." Turning to Ichabod, who wore an expression of complete and utter disdain for the woman in front of him, she gave a tight smile. "Ichabod, would you care to move and mingle with me? I'd hate for you to be perceived as rude as well."
Offering his hand to her, he gave her a playful smile as he began to lead her more toward the center of the room.
He leaned in close and whispered, "I'd love to rudely leave this stuffy house and mingle with you elsewhere..." his lips brushed her ear. "In much less stuffy clothing."
Her mouth twitched as she did her best to keep from laughing out loud. "And just what type of clothing would you like us to wear?"
He pulled back with a raised eyebrow as his eyes swept down her form. "The kind we were born with."
This time her laugh did escape, but her response to inform him of her consent to his want was interrupted.
"Well, if it isn't the Crane's in all their complete and utter perfection."
Rolling her eyes, she turned to Mary while Ichabod chuckled. "It's always wonderful to be recognized for what you are."
Now, Mary was the one rolling her eyes as she closed the distance between them.
Ichabod and Mary had an odd sort of relationship. They constantly bickered with one another, more so to grate her nerves than anything else in her opinion.
After she and Ichabod had married, her childhood friend had been less than thrilled. In all her twenty-five years of life, Mary had always been there, whether it was a bully in need of a lesson, or a hand to be held as her father screamed in one of his drunken rages. Her friend had been fierce in her devotion and protection.
When Mary had learned of the news of what she and Ichabod had done, she'd had to take the time to sit her friend down and assure her that nothing would really change. It had been a bit confusing at first as she had thought that if anyone would have seen it coming, it would have been Mary.
"Oh, look, there comes the love of your life."
With a roll of her eyes, she sighed, "Mary, Abraham is not the-"
"Ms. Cooper."
Nearly jumping out of her skin, she spun to find not Abraham, but Ichabod coming to a stop behind her.
"Ms. van Tassel."
The difference in the way he said their names wasn't lost on her.
"Mr. Crane," Mary said, stepping forward. "I see you've made it back to our small town once more."
He smiled and she felt her breathing change slightly as his eyes caught hers.
"Well, it is a lovely town," he answered.
"It is, isn't it?" Mary glanced at her with raised eyebrows. "So lovely."
Finally getting a hold on herself, she asked, "What brings you back to Sleepy Hollow?"
"Oh, I was delivering some documents."
Mary nodded. "How long will you be here?"
"I'm returning to camp just as soon as I search out a proper meal." He chuckled. "Though, I've already declined a few." He stepped forward with a conspiring glance about. "Are all the women here so forward?"
She raised an eyebrow as Mary let out a rather loud and, as her step-mother would call it, unladylike laugh. The woman swore Mary would never find a husband.
"You're a soldier and, if I'm forced to admit it, not too terrible a sight. They all think lunch will be the first step in garnering them a new husband."
At her friend's declaration, she couldn't help but close her eyes for a moment. Mary was always so tactful.
"Tell me, Mr. Crane," Mary continued. "Any possibilities?"
He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting to hers, then quickly falling to his boots.
"I'm afraid I don't have the time."
"You have responsibilities," she offered quietly.
Eyes back on her, he nodded with a small smile. "Yes."
"Well, as Katrina's taken and I would refuse if you tried, why don't you join us for lunch?"
"Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude on you ladies outing," he answered quickly.
"Nonsense," Mary said with a wave of her hand. "Tell him, Katrina. He'll listen to you."
Knowing her friend would only continue making things more awkward if she refused, she gave him a small smile. "Please, join us. It would be good to hear about your time in the colonies."
With a nod, he answered, "Of course. I have one more document to deliver, but I'd be delighted to join you."
Mary clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! We'll be just up the street at the diner." She patted his shoulder with a wink. "I'll save you a seat right next to Katrina."
Ichabod shot her another uncomfortable look before clearing his throat. "Yes, well, I'll just-alright."
As he moved away, she looped an arm through Mary's and jerked her close. "Mary-"
"Let's just skip the lecture on propriety and move right into your denial that the two of you are completely enthralled with one another."
Her eyes widened. "Mary! We barely know each other. I've had a grand total of maybe five conversations with the man."
Mary glanced at her. "I'm aware. I was eavesdropping on the greater majority of them."
Shooting her friend a glare, she shook her head. "So, then, you know we've never done anything inappropriate."
With a shrug, Mary answered, "That depends on your definition of inappropriate."
"Well, what definition are you using, Mary, because it must be very different from mine?"
"The one where I watch the two of you as you speak." Her friend sighed. "I know I joke, Katrina, but the two of you look at each other like two people who've known each other for years rather than months. You talk about deep emotional issues, things you've never even shared with me."
Brushing off her friend's assessment, she shook her head. "He's had a difficult time since his decision to turn to our side. He needs a friend as his family has completely abandoned him." She paused before whispering, "We're the same in that way."
"Oh," Mary huffed. "I see. I suppose I'm just nothing compared to Mr. tall, dark, and handsome."
With a grin at her friends false hurt, she sighed, "Come on. Let's get a table and wait for him. I'm sure you're simply dying to make the both of us even more uncomfortable."
"I do quite enjoy it. Hmm..." she hummed, bringing a finger to her chin in thought. "I think I'll lead with how pretty the babies would be and watch you both mutually turn the color of your hair."
Shaking her head again, she pulled Mary into the diner, sure this lunch would be memorable.
Mary had always known.
Since their marriage, though, Mary and Ichabod had taken it upon themselves to attempt pulling her in all directions. If she wasn't with one, she was with the other. When together, they would take up opposite sides of her, each trying to garner her attention the most.
In simplest terms, the baby she was now carrying wouldn't be her first.
"Must the two of you do this tonight?" she sighed. "I'm not in the mood."
Ichabod's hand squeezed hers affectionately. "Of course, my love."
Mary huffed as she looped an arm through her free one. "I need to talk to Katrina." Her eyes narrowed at Ichabod. "In private."
Her husband's hand only tightened around hers. "You can't do that at another time? Perhaps tomorrow when you get to spend all day with her at the infirmary?"
Mary's eyebrow shot up in a challenging manner. "Jealous?"
"Mary-" she began, only to be interrupted by an irate Ichabod.
"Jealous? Of you?" He chuckled. "Hardly."
Having had enough, she stepped forward, thoroughly disengaging herself from the both of them before turning, irritated.
"I actually see someone I need to speak with, so," she said, taking Ichabod's arm and looping it through Mary's. "The two of you keep each other company until I return."
They both opened their mouths to protest, but she held up a hand. "Either you remain like this until I return, or you," she said pointing at Mary. "Will have every dirty, disgusting task at the infirmary tomorrow and you," she added, turning to Ichabod. "Will get nothing out of me tonight."
If Mary had looked horrified, Ichabod was ten times worse.
He quickly nodded. "I will be sure to keep Ms. Cooper in line, my love."
Mary's gaze jerked to him with a glare that should have dropped him on the spot.
With a glance around, she suddenly smirked. "Oh, look," she said, gesturing across the room. "It's Mrs. Tucker and I do believe she's eyeing you, Mr. Crane. Why don't we go pay her a visit?"
Without further ado, Mary began dragging him in the woman's direction as he cast a pleading look back at her.
Chuckling, she simply shrugged.
Mrs. Tucker had cornered Ichabod upon many occasions to his utter horror. The woman's thick perfume had the ability to stick to you long after you had departed from her and her roaming hands never failed to make Ichabod uncomfortable in the extreme.
With a last glance at her two favorite children, she turned to search out some refreshment.
When she'd finally returned to relieve Mary of her husband, he'd been more than a little put out.
Now, she was tasked with his incessant speech about how irritating her friend was.
Needing an outlet to distract him from his woes, she glanced about, finding just what she was looking for.
"See that woman over there?" She leaned up and whispered in his ear. "The one in the blue dress?"
As he searched out and found the woman, he nodded.
"She was nearly Lady van Tassel."
She could tell she'd gotten Ichabod's attention as his eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
"Yes. After my mother passed, the vultures swooped in shortly thereafter. They, of course, at least pretended to wait a respectful amount of time, but even as soon as the day of her funeral, they began coming over, offering their...condolences."
They smiled as they passed the guests. "Do you know how my father picked his new wife?" she asked with a smirk. "He flipped a coin."
Ichabod stopped to shoot her a look of disbelief. "You're not serious."
Smiling at him, she continued, "I couldn't be more serious. They were married within three months of her death. When it came time to choose, Mrs. Lewis, there, lost out due to a coin toss."
Ichabod was still shocked.
"Don't worry over her, my love. She recovered rather quickly with Mr. Lewis, the rather portly man to her right."
"I suppose that's nice," he mumbled under his breath.
Delighted in having stumped him, she threaded her fingers through his. "Just promise that if something should happen to me, you'll not do such a thing to our children. I assure you that I will return to haunt you should you make such an error."
Earning a chuckle from her husband, he brought their hands up to place a kiss upon her knuckles. "I'll make no such promise. I refuse to allow anything to happen to you."
Her expression faltered slightly. "I hope that is so, my love."
Ichabod looked as though he were about to respond when her father interrupted them.
"Katrina, I'd like you to meet Mr. Kent."
She and Ichabod stepped apart slightly to turn to the two men.
"He's just moved into town and purchased Mr. Hubbard's land. He'll be in need of someone to show him around town. I thought, perhaps, you could be of service to him."
In the five months since she and Ichabod had married, her father still refused to acknowledge it. His disdain over her broken engagement to Abraham, a man who could have provided her father with a generous amount of wealth, was seemingly always apparent.
"It's lovely to meet you, Mr. Kent, but I'm afraid I must decline." Pulling Ichabod closer to her, she smiled. "You see, my husband is only home for a short time and I'd like to spend as much of it with him as possible. I'm sure you understand?"
She didn't know which expression to take in first. Her father's obvious disapproval, or Mr. Kent's surprise as he looked between her and Ichabod.
"Your husband? I'm sorry. I-I wasn't aware that you were married."
Offering a proud smile, she glanced to Ichabod. "I am. This is Ichabod Crane, my husband."
Ichabod, who was quite tense, extended his hand to the man. "How are you enjoying our town, Sir?"
After a moment, the man seemed to gather his senses, accepting the hand shake. "Ah, yes. It's a lovely town. I'm growing quite fond of it actually.
Katrina took it upon herself to remove her and Ichabod from this conversation. She could clearly see Ichabod ready to strangle the man from his obvious less than proper glances toward her.
"If you'll excuse us, Ichabod and I were just about to search out refreshment."
Not waiting for their response, she began pulling Ichabod away.
Bypassing the table of food and drink completely, she continued to pull him further into the house until she reached her old room.
Shutting the door behind her, she turned to her husband, who had taken up pacing back and forth.
"That man...I could just.."
"Ichabod-"
"He's completely immature in his treatment of you. I should go back out there and-"
Bridging the space between them, she took him by the arm and laid a finger over his lips. "Don't pay my father any attention. I don't."
Hands sliding down his neck, she twisted the hair at the nape of his neck between her fingers.
"Besides, I think you should stay right here with me," she whispered as she leaned into him. "I love it when you get all flustered over me."
He pulled her firmly into him, brushing her lips as he spoke. "Well, then, you must love me very much at this moment."
The act of kissing Ichabod Crane was her absolute favorite thing in the world to do. The feelings he stirred in her set her very soul ablaze.
Little encouragement was ever needed for him to anticipate her every want and need. The result of which had his hands now sliding into the back of her hair as he teased her mouth open.
Access granted, she couldn't contain the moan that slipped from her as his tongue ran across the roof of her mouth.
"Katrina!"
Abruptly pulling back from Ichabod, she turned to face her father and step-mother, who had both now entered the room and shut the door.
"Father, is there something you need?"
His face was completely red and she knew it was more from anger than embarrassment for intruding on her private moment with Ichabod. Aware that her offhand manner in which she addressed him would only further his anger, she reached for Ichabod's hand, threading her fingers through his, needing all the support she could acquire.
"Do you have any idea who that man was? What he could offer to this family? And for you to completely disregard him in such a manner!"
Ichabod's entire body jerked forward, forcing her to place her other hand on his chest to hold him still.
"What he could offer? In case you haven't noticed, father, I already have a husband."
"A temporary setback," he bit out. "He's a soldier, Katrina. He'll be dead soon enough."
Katrina felt her anger growing to match that of her father's.
Ichabod's hand in tow, she began walking toward the door. "Ichabod and I are leaving."
Her father, however, stepped in front of them. "I've had enough of this rebelliousness of yours, Katrina. You've had your way long enough. It's time for you to protect your families interests. Your mother and I did not raise you to act this way."
"My mother is dead!" she yelled before throwing up a hand to point at her step-mother. "That whore that you call your wife had no more to do with my upbringing than you did."
He reached out as if to grab her, but Ichabod had hold of him before he could touch her. "Lay a hand on my wife and I will end you."
With that warning, Ichabod shoved him back.
Emotions completely out of sorts, she bit down her sob. "I have longed for your love my entire life, but all I've ever been to you is someone to bargain away. I married Ichabod because he loves me, but you have no idea of the meaning of the word. My mother was not cold in the ground before you took her to your bed." Shaking her head, she sighed. "You did not raise me. I am who I am because I had to fight for every moment of my life to simply survive in this house. So forgive me, father, for my selfish act of, for once in my life, seeking out a road to happiness, whether it be a day or a year." She gripped Ichabod's hand. "I'm finished. Until you can learn to respect my marriage, I am through with you."
More than ready to get out of this awful house, she opened the door before glancing back at him. "And by the way, congratulations. You're going to be a grandfather."
Not waiting for his reaction, she turned, only to find that every guest, on both the top and lower floors in the house, was staring at her as she did so. The only thing that kept her from screaming at each and every one of them as well was Ichabod's hand at her back.
"Come, my love. Let us go home."
She managed to contain herself until she stepped inside her house.
Upon the door shutting behind them, she began to pull at the tight dress that felt as if it were cutting off her oxygen.
"Katrina..."
"I can't breathe," she whimpered.
It wouldn't come off. The laces were tangling in her fingers as she couldn't see through her tears.
"Let me help you, my love."
"No!" she shouted, pushing his hand away. "I can do it. I don't need anyone's help. I've always taken care of myself and now is no different. I can do it alone."
His hands cupped her face and forced her to look at him. "But you don't have to. You're not alone anymore, Katrina. I'm here and I will never leave you."
The determination swirling behind his blue eyes shook her to her core.
"Ichabod..."
Legs giving out, she slumped forward into his waiting arms, tightly gripping his shirt in her hands.
"It's alright, my love. Everything's going to be alright."
"I'm not weak."
She hated showing weakness. Her whole life she'd had to be strong, never allowing anyone to see her weaknesses.
Ichabod's chuckle prompted her to pull back from him in confusion. "You're laughing at me?"
He smiled at her as he brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. "I'm sorry, my love. I just don't see how anyone could think of you as weak. Why, the very day I met you, you marched right in, put me in my place, and showed no fear to the many soldiers surrounding you." He shook his head. "You are the farthest from weak of anyone I know, my beautiful wife."
Releasing her own laugh, she smiled at him, having no idea how he managed to make even the worst moments laughable.
"I love you, Ichabod."
Leaning down, he placed a light kiss to her forehead. "I know."
Rolling her eyes at him, she slapped him lightly on the chest. "How about you help me out of this dress?"
A mischievous smile overtook his face. "It would be my profound pleasure, Mrs. Crane."