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Review reply to sparrowlight: Yes, she does. But does he love her too? Or is he just disappointed by his marriage? Thank you for the review, love! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sleepy Hollow!

Chapter 10

Christine was looking around the park as she was walking beside the dark haired constable, a basket in her hand. She smiled at the beautiful scenes taking place around her; children were running about and couples were walking or talking as they walked hand in hand. She dared to look at the man next to her only to find his gaze on the ground, his coat held in his hand.

"Sir?" she called and he looked at her surprised that she had talked to him.

"Christine?" he answered with a quick smile.

"Is something wrong, sir? We could return to the house if you don't feel comfortable with…"

"It's not that…I was just fine when I woke up." He murmured and she frowned.

"Something happened this morning?"

"Yes…you could…say …I got a letter from Katrina…"

"Oh…oh." She whispered as they continued their stroll around the park.

"She gives her regards…" he spoke quietly and she frowned.

"Thank you…um…did she say anything that upset you, sir?"

"You can say that…" he mumbled with a nervous chuckle.

"May I ask what did she say?" Christine asked as they came to a stop in front of a large tree.

"She doesn't know when she's coming back…she…said she…that the air does her good…that…All in all she said she's staying there…until she feels like coming back…" he finished and Christine swallowed the knot in her throat.

"I see…"

"Jesus, Christine, she didn't even tell me she loves me…The letter was only four lines long…not even a proper paragraph." He said in a small voice. Christine looked away briefly before placing the basket she was holding on the ground.

"You'd like to sit?" she asked and he nodded curtly. She spread the blanket they had bought and she sat down. He settled next to her and sighed, placing his coat away.

"I don't know what it is…" he said softly, shaking his head.

"Did you reply?"

"No…I'll do it tonight…I didn't know what to say to her." He said, turning to look at her.

Christine remained silent, her hand reaching for the meadow beside the blanket.

"You should say what you think and feel." She said after a moment and he looked at her.

"I think I'll just do that." He said with a small smile.

"Cookie?" she offered and he laughed, running a hand through his hair quickly.

"I'd love one." He replied and she smiled as she reached for the basket, taking out a few cookies wrapped in a cloth. She offered him one and he took it, taking a bite from it.

"Have you always lived here?" he asked after swallowing and she nodded.

"Yes…I was born here…You?" she asked as she too took a bite.

"Yes…um…my father was from New York but my mother was from the country…" he trailed off, looking thoughtfully at the cookie in his hand.

"They are alive?"

"No! No…they are not." He said as he wiped his hand on a handkerchief after eating the rest of the cookie.

"I am sorry…How long has it's been since they passed away?" she asked as she leaned back on her elbows so she could look at the clean sky.

"My father is dead…ten years now…my mother died when I was seven." He said as he fumbled with a button.

"I am sorry…How did she…"

"I'd rather not talk about it please, Christine." He said quickly cutting her off. She closed her mouth, her face heating up.

"I am sorry…I didn't mean to intrude." She said softly and he looked at her, his eyes soft.

"No, dear…it's fine…I just don't like talking about her much." He said equally softly and she nodded, averting her gaze.

"Christine?"

"Yes?" she asked immediately turning to face him.

"I'm sorry for asking this but…have you ever been in love?" he asked quickly, his eyes staring intently into hers. Christine stared at him, her heartbeat going faster.

"Um…yes, I think." She said at last and his mouth formed a silent 'o'. She swallowed and spoke again.

"But I don't think he'll ever love me back, sir." She said and he suddenly seemed intrigued.

"Why is that?" he asked curiously, placing his hand lightly on top of hers.

"Oh…he wouldn't look at me, sir." She said with a nervous chuckle, not believing that she was actually talking about him to…well, to him.

"I don't think that's true." Ichabod stated with confidence and she smiled, shaking her head.

"I assure you, he wouldn't."

"Well, what is he? A king or something?" he joked and she laughed.

"No…he's an ordinary man actually…" she trailed off.

"Well…maybe he doesn't deserve you then…if he doesn't see how nice…and…well…pretty you are then maybe he doesn't deserve the feelings you harbor for him." He said with a wave of his hand, like he was trying to convince her to stop loving who ever that man was.

"That's not true, sir. He certainly does deserve it." She said with a smile and his smile faded.

"Oh…well good for him then." He said as he lied down on the blanket, his lips pursed and she looked at him curiously, wondering why that change of mood appeared so quickly.

"Was it scary back there?" she asked and he peeked at her curiously.

"Where, dear?" he asked as he rolled onto his side and supported his head with his hand.

"Sleepy Hollow…"

"Oh… there…well…for me…it wasn't the best of places…I mean I met my wife there…of course. But…it isn't that great." He said as a shudder went through him.

"Is the legend really true?" she asked and he narrowed his eyes at her.

"And how do you, dear missy, know about the legend?"

"My father used to tell me about it so I would behave." She said as giggled escaped her.

"I'm sorry to say it but your father was right." Ichabod murmured with far away eyes.

"And he's not the best looking horseman you'll ever seen." He said as an after thought.

"Really?"

"Yes…"

"Can you ride?" she asked and his eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" he choked out and she chuckled.

"A horse? Can you ride a horse?" she re-phrased and he grimaced.

"Oh, Christine…you're opening old wounds." He said, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh?"

"Yes, you see, poor old me isn't very good at that. Well, I did get on a horse but it wasn't an easy thing. I mean it." He said, looking down at her, his eyes focusing on the corner of her lips.

"I always waned to try it but I never had…" she trailed off as she felt his finger brushing over the corner of her mouth slowly.

"…the chance." She finished as he took his hand away.

"Cookie…" he said shortly, pointing at her mouth.

"Oh…thank you. Clumsy me." She said chuckling and he smiled.

"It's getting late…" he said softly, looking at the sky.

"Yes…maybe we should leave?" Christine asked and he nodded, getting up on his feet and offering her his hand. She took it and smiled at him before taking the blanket from the ground, placing it in the basket.

"Let's go…" he whispered as he took her hand and laced it around his bicep.

"God…I forgot…does it bother you to stop by my office? I have to take some papers." He said with an apologetic look on his face and she shrugged.

"Sure."

"It'll only take a minute." He assured her and she smiled.

"I don't mind." She said laughing and he grinned.

"Thank you."

They arrived at his office and she waited for him outside. It took him about ten minutes to return.

"Okay, sorry about that. Ready to go home now." He said and she nodded.

Soon they arrived at the house and she locked the door before heading to the kitchen.

"Christine…"

"Yes, sir?" she asked, turning around.

"I had a lovely time…" he said, shuffling his feet.

"Me too…I'm going to cook dinner. I'll call you when it's ready…" she trailed off as she made to leave the hallway.

"Christine…" he called again and when she turned around again, he was standing very close to her.

"Y…yes?" she stuttered and he took another step towards her. His hand cupped her cheek as his eyes focused on her lips.

He leaned down and her eyes widened as she saw his mouth coming closer. She held her breath but he suddenly stopped and moved his lips to her smooth cheek, placing a lingering kiss there. His hand got tangled in her hair as his mouth moved back from her cheek.

"Thank you." He whispered before quickly disappearing from her line of vision. Christine blinked and placed her fingers on her cheek, her skin still tingling from his touch. She swallowed and turned around, walking towards the kitchen with quick, anxious footsteps.

End of chapter 10

Author's note: Thank you for reading! Please review! :)