Healing the Heart: An Ichabbie Story from Sleepy Hollow Chapter 10
"Sophie….there's my Sophie!"
Four-month-old Sophia gurgled and cooed with happiness as her mother greeted her that chilly February morning.
"Are you my little Valentine today Sophie?" Abbie asked as she scooped her daughter up out of the crib and was able to catch a whiff of the baby's diaper
"Oh is that what's so funny little girl?" Abbie asked carrying her over to the changing table "you're getting potty trained to moment you turn two years old Missy"
As Abbie began to change Sophia she cooed loudly and began kicking her legs and flailing her arms and Abbie knew Ichabod was standing in the doorway.
Abbie smiled shaking her head. Sophia got excited whenever she saw either one of her parents but the child was just crazy about her father. So crazy in fact Abbie wouldn't be surprised if Sophia's first words were either 'Daddy' or 'Dada' instead of 'Mommy'
"Sophie my love how are you this morning?" Ichabod asked and received a happy babble for a response from Sophia
"Pretty good I'd say" Abbie said as she snapped a fresh diaper onto Sophia "she never seems to leave her daddy any messes though"
Ichabod smiled rather smugly and Abbie pushed him playfully.
"You seem to be doing good this morning too Abbie" he said taking note of the natural glow that motherhood gave her
"I was just thinking about this time last year" Abbie replied "you were there for me when Luke hurt me and broke my heart and you put me back together I can't thank you enough for that"
"I don't think Luke ever deserved you in the first place" Ichabod said sincerely "and you gave me the priceless gift of your love and a chance for me to be a father"
Sophia fussed and squirmed demanding Ichabod's attention and Abbie chuckled "Speaking of which"
"Yes Sophie I love you too" Ichabod said raising Sophia up above his head and the baby squealed happily. Ichabod nuzzled his nose with Sophia's and her tiny hands reached out to pet her father's beard and uncontrollable giggles filled the nursery. When Ichabod kissed one of Sophia's chubby cheeks she tried to do the same but left a slobbery kiss on Ichabod's cheek in return
"Why thank you Sophie"
"I guess I better start making my two lovebirds breakfast" Abbie said
"No" Ichabod said bouncing Sophia "we'll make breakfast together you mean"
"I like the sound of that"
Raising Sophia had its ups and downs but Ichabod and Abbie were hanging in there; because they could battle the apocalypse they could most certainly raise a baby.
Abbie was thankful that Ichabod was such a doting father and there were nights when Sophia just would not to stop crying he was there. Two or three in the morning dead tired Abbie would try feeding or changing Sophia but the child just wouldn't be soothed. Then Ichabod would step in and hold and comfort her and Sophia would always calm down to the gentle sound of her father singing to her. Abbie would just sigh and smile in amusement because Sophia was such a daddy's girl and had Ichabod wrapped around her finger already.
Sophia reached a milestone that month and it was driving her crazy. Teething. As her tiny chompers were developing and coming in they were cutting through her sensitive gums. There were days and nights where the poor child cried over her sore mouth. Abbie brought as many teething cookies as she could and had them stacked in the freezer so the cool sensation would calm her.
"These so called cookies are amazing" Ichabod said "most babies Sophie's age would be given alcohol to be rubbed onto their gums in my era"
"Ichabod were you honestly going to rub alcohol on our daughter's gums?"
"If needed yes"
"Well it's good thing I came back here in time" Abbie said watching Sophie drool over the cookie which was giving her much relief "I'm surprised she's teething now I was going to continue breastfeeding her until she's six months; but I guess now I can start introducing her to solid foods too"
"It's a shame I do enjoy watching you feed her"
"I think you like staring at my breasts too"
"Point taken" Ichabod chuckled.
Sophia tugged on Ichabod's shirt to get his attention and when he turned around she offered up her slobbery cookie to him.
Ichabod smiled anyway and took the cookie graciously and Sophia cooed with glee
"I've received many gifts in my life but this is very thoughtful of you Sophie" Ichabod said bouncing her and Abbie smiled and said
"Smells like she has another gift for you too"
Ichabod took a whiff of Sophia but instead of being disgusted by the baby's diaper he gave her a raspberry kiss and proceeded to take her to the nursery to change her.
"I think she needs a bath too" Abbie said and as if Sophia understood she began to cry; the little girl couldn't stand bath time.
"Let's both give her a bath then" Ichabod said as Abbie ran warm water into the little baby tub "then maybe later you and I can take a bath together"
Abbie blushed and turned away. Ever since Sophia was born there seemed to be this wall of sexual tension between the two of them and Abbie could tell that Ichabod was yearning for her just as she was for him. Even after the six-week check up with Dr. Mason giving them the okay to resume all sexual activity Abbie's body was saying yes but her mind was saying no. Abbie noticed all of the changes that pregnancy did to her body and avoided Ichabod in any type of sexual encounter like the plague. She was a little worried how Ichabod would view her now because of all the changes to her body.
As Abbie managed to get Sophia out of her jumper and deposed of her soiled diaper she began to cry even louder and harder.
"I know Sophie" Abbie comforted "but you're going to be clean and smell so nice"
"She'll smell like strawberries" Ichabod chuckled in amusement reading the shampoo label and Abbie pushed him playfully.
Sophia kicked her fat little legs as her mother finally was able to place her in the tub and she was distraught and managed to kick a bit of water out of the tub
"Sophia Abigail!" Abbie gently scolded
Ichabod picked up Sophia's favorite pink ducky and squeezed it and it caught her attention. Sophia reached for the ducky with her eyes begging for it and cooing. When Ichabod gave her the ducky the poor thing's head was lodged between Sophia's sore gums as she proceeded to chew and drool on it.
"I don't think you'll ever learn to say no to her" Abbie teased but was thankful that he calmed Sophia down as she lathered some shampoo into her soft hair
"I think I'll have to agree with you on that"
"You just wait until she's sixteen and asking to go out with a young man she meets"
"That's far too young" Ichabod said stubbornly "I thought young people become of age at eighteen in this era"
"Yes but most parents allow dating at sixteen"
"Not Sophia"
"Alright Mr. Overprotective Daddy" Abbie laughed, "can we at least get your daughter through bath time first?"
Ichabod gently pinched one of Sophia's rosy cheeks as she chewed her ducky and she smiled and Abbie smiled too and said
"She is lucky to have you though"
Once Sophia was finished with her bath Abbie put her in some fresh pajamas and fed her and the baby was out like a lamp at least for a few hours anyway. Abbie had paperwork to get through for Irving and her maternity leave was almost up; and she wanted to be on track once she returned.
"A cup of tea for your thoughts Miss Mills?"
Abbie looked up to see Ichabod with two mugs in his hands and she graciously took one
"Thanks Crane"
"I'm actually surprised to see you out here working" Ichabod said "I thought I clearly said something about a private bath later on this evening"
Abbie bit her lower lip she should have known better than to think that Ichabod would drop the subject and she tried coming up with excuses.
"I really need to get this finished for work and Sophie will be up for whatever she needs in a while—"
"I seem to recall that you don't have to report to the station for another week" Ichabod said cutting her off "and while Sophie does still get up she seems to be getting through most of the night now"
"Ichabod I can't okay"
"Abbie look at me" he said lifting her chin up to meet his eyes "why not my love? please tell me"
"Ichabod….my body…I um…"
"Yes what about your beautiful body?"
"That's the thing it's not beautiful anymore" Abbie replied, "I didn't exactly loose all of the weight I gained when I was pregnant"
"Oh Abbie how could you ever think that?"
"I don't know if you'll like all the changes" Abbie said "I'm sorry if I've seemed a bit standoffish I do want you Ichabod but I don't you to be disappointed"
"Grace Abigail Mills I could never be disappointed in your body" Ichabod said sincerely "now I didn't expect you to be the same after you had our daughter of course your body changed but it didn't change negatively because I still find you beautiful"
"You do?"
"Why don't I answer that question as I remove your garments and get you in the tub?" Ichabod said his voice dropping seductively
"Ichabod we both can't fit in that tub"
"Oh I think we can my love"
Ichabod led Abbie out into the living room and Abbie saw that there were candles all around with dimed lights and Ichabod's infamous metal tin tub sat in the middle of the floor filled to the brim with warm water.
Ichabod eagerly began removing his clothes while Abbie watched him bashfully and blushed.
"Oh come now Abbie I'm sure you're fine" Ichabod reassured as he pulled her shirt over her head to get a good view of her breasts "very fine indeed"
"The only reason I'm not wearing a bra is because it's easier to feed Sophie and oh shit I'm leaking sorry-Ichabod!"
Abbie gasped as Ichabod swiped a thick bead of her breast milk from one her nipples with his finger and stuck it in his mouth
"No wonder Sophie latches right on" Ichabod said kissing her breasts "how could you think that I would be disgusted by that"
"Ichabod…." Abbie moaned as Ichabod swiped his tongue across her nipples causing her knees to buckle
"I could never be disgusted by how you feed our child" Ichabod continued to say and moved his hands down her belly where Sophia rested safely inside for nine months. Abbie did have a little pouch now but Ichabod though that motherhood made her body ever rounder and softer to the touch.
"My belly-"
"Is fine just the way it is" Ichabod said kissing her his hands now unfastening her jeans pulling them down her thighs.
"My butt-"
"Stills has the healthy ample shape that I enjoy" Ichabod said sincerely "Miss Mills do I have to show you how womanly you are once more?"
Abbie moaned as Ichabod slipped his hand underneath Abbie's panties and his fingers teased her clitoris and she could feel herself growing damp
"Answer me Abbie"
"…."
"What was that?"
"Yes" Abbie finally said, "please show me"
Now completely nude Ichabod helped Abbie into the tub and he settled in behind her. Abbie felt her body flush when Ichabod's erection poked her under the water
"Now what were you saying about us not being able to fit in this tub?"
"I guess you're right"
"Oh I know I'm right"
Just as Abbie predicted their bath time did not include a whole lot of bathing but more petting, kissing, and teasing. As soon they were done both gave each other an equal amount of orgasms Ichabod entered Abbie from behind and with their long dry spell since Sophia's birth; Ichabod was especially aggressive. Abbie didn't realize how much she missed Ichabod physically until he filled her passage to the brim. Ichabod wrapped his arms around Abbie tightly not wanting to let her go until he had the satisfaction of hearing her cry out in pleasure from her climax.
"Ichabod please….I need to come" Abbie begged
"Is that what you need my dear Abbie?" Ichabod asked thrusting faster and harder
"Yes…"
Ichabod snaked his other hand down between Abbie's thighs and teased her clitoris once more between his long fingers and that's what pushed Abbie to her edge.
The sound of Abbie's moans as her orgasm rippled through her body were music to Ichabod's ears and he longed to hear it all the time. Abbie laid back onto Ichabod's chest and the two of them sat in silence for a while.
Until Sophia began crying bringing them back to reality
"A baby's cry" Abbie said getting out the tub and wrapping her bathrobe on "the perfect form of birth control"
Ichabod chuckled watching Abbie make her way down the hall to Sophia's nursery. Ichabod figured they might as well enjoy any sex they could squeeze in while Sophia was still a baby; it will be harder when they would have a curious toddler walking around all the time. Ichabod got out of the tub and pulled his pants back on to see if Abbie needed any help.
Ichabod entered the nursery with a teething cookie in hand and Abbie was trying to bounce and soothe the crying Sophia. Ichabod gave Sophia the cookie and the baby reached out her chubby arms to him in return.
Abbie placed Sophia in Ichabod's arms and all the crying seemed to die down at once.
"Shhh Sophie I'm here" Ichabod whispered "Daddy's here"
"Looks like somebody just wanted to be held by her daddy" Abbie teased
"I wonder where she gets that from" Ichabod replied cocking his eyebrows at Abbie who not too long ago was in his embrace herself and Abbie couldn't help but smile back
By time May rolled around Sophia was seven months old and was not only already weaned from Abbie's breast milk but was now crawling. And was she ever a crawler. Once Sophia had begun crawling there was no stopping her and Ichabod couldn't be more proud than a peacock. Abbie was a bit more cautious since the cabin was not one hundred percent baby proof. One warm spring morning Abbie was cleaning the cabin out of all it's spring dust while Ichabod was out front chopping wood. Abbie placed Sophia on a rug close by with some of her toys close by to keep an eye on her.
The door was open to keep the cabin from being stuffy.
Ichabod walked in the cabin briefly to get a glass of water from the kitchen; when he saw Abbie searching for something with her butt in the air.
"Miss Mills I do believe you're asking for trouble with that bottom of yours tempting me" Ichabod teased as he pulled her close to him
"Crane!" Abbie giggled as she felt his arousal growing against her butt
Sophia cooed loudly with glee as she watched her parents from the living room innocently completely naïve as to what was going on
"Later okay" Abbie whispered pouring him some water "behave in front of your daughter"
"You're lucky she's watching too" Ichabod replied playfully before taking his drink and Abbie could see the lust in his eyes. Abbie rolled her eyes at him but was flattered by his suggestion Ichabod just loved to tease and excite her.
Just as Ichabod was about to go back outside Sophia reached her arms up at him begging for him to pick her up.
Ichabod lifted Sophia high above his head and twirled her around and she squealed in delight and Abbie called from the kitchen worrying
"Ichabod don't you think that's a little too high?"
"Oh Abbie she's alright" Ichabod said kissing the baby "tell Mommy not to worry so much Sophie"
Abbie shook her head when she heard Sophia agree with laughter; like father like daughter.
Ichabod settled Sophia back on the rug and made his way back outside to his work. Sophia did not sit well with this she wanted to be with her daddy. Rocking herself back and forth Sophia hit the rug on her belly. Pulling herself up on her chubby arms and legs Sophia began crawling her way to the front door. Sophia had no intentions of stopping at the front door she made her way outside with tiny hands padding through the soft green grass.
"Alright Sophie time for lunch-Sophie?" Abbie was shocked to see the rug was deserted "Sophia!"
Running to the doorframe Abbie was relieved to see Sophia on Ichabod's knee as he sat on the tree stump. If Ichabod wasn't out there who knows what would have happened to the little crawler. It was time for damn baby gate.
"I got her Abbie" Ichabod reassured bouncing the baby on his knee
"Is she okay?"
"Abbie you mustn't worry so much she's fine," Ichabod said
"Well I'm glad to see at least one of us didn't get a heart attack" Abbie said "I don't want her to get hurt I know she's growing but she's still a baby"
Sophia laughed trying to stick her dirty fingers in her mouth and Abbie scooped her up wiping her hands clean "We're getting a baby gate Crane"
"Are you trying to limit Sophie's explorations?" Ichabod asked
"Yes to the living room of the cabin" Abbie said firmly picking blades of grass out of Sophia's hair "do you know what would have happened if you weren't out here?"
Abbie's fear of demons coming after Sophia were strong she didn't want her child reliving the same things she and Jenny had
"Easy Abbie I was out here" Ichabod said, "you know I would never let anything or anyone hurt our Sophie"
"I know" Abbie said "but I'm still getting the baby gate"
Ichabod smiled he knew that Abbie sometimes teased him for being an overprotective parent but was just the same sometimes.
"Oh she is just so pretty in this dress!" Jenny said as Abbie managed to get some ribbons braided into Sophia's hair. At eleven months old now almost reaching her first birthday Sophia had so much hair Abbie didn't know what to do. Most biracial children were blessed with full head of hair so much it gave their mothers nightmare. On this cool September day Abbie and Jenny were taking Sophia to a photo shoot to get pictures done for her birthday invitations. Being a true Halloween baby Abbie dressed Sophia in a bright orange dress with matching black ribbons and shoes.
"Let's hope we can keep it on her" Abbie said, "she's a little nudist"
"What girl get out!" Jenny laughed
"I'm serious ever since she started walking now whenever Ichabod or I dress her she'll be running around with nothing but her diaper in no time"
"I'm pretty sure it's just a phase" Jenny insisted
"I hope it's a phase that doesn't stick around too long then"
Sophia raised her arms up to her aunt and Jenny laughed along with her "Yes you're so pretty Sophie!"
"I hope she doesn't do it at her party next month" Abbie said
"Oh that would be too cute"
As the sisters got loaded up in the car Abbie walked slowly with Sophia who held to two of her mother's fingers. Since walking came soon after crawling Sophia surprised her parents when she took her first steps at nine months. It made Ichabod proud and although Abbie was proud too she was more concerned about all of the things their toddler would get into now. Sophia seemed to be conquering the baby gate now so there was no stopping her. Abbie also figured that Sophia would probably need a toddler bed well before her second birthday because she also started climbing out of her crib in the middle of the night.
After the photo shoot Abbie, Jenny, and Sophia settled down to lunch in the food court of the mall. Jenny laughed as Sophia was stuffing macaroni and cheese into her mouth with her fists and most of it landed on her dress.
"Well it's a good thing we already did the photo shoot then" Abbie said wiping Sophia's mouth and dress and the baby squirmed in protest.
"So you and Ichabod thinking on working on baby number two?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh c'mon Abbie" Jenny insisted "you know Sophie's getting older she's going to need someone close to her age to play with"
"Are you thinking of making me an aunt myself anytime soon?" Abbie asked
"Girl I don't have a man like you do"
"Jenny I don't know" Abbie said honestly "I love Sophia but she wasn't exactly planned she just sort of happened and we don't have a lot of room in the cabin for another child"
"Oh Abbie stop you of all people should know how 'good' Ichabod is with his hands" Jenny teased "he can expand the cabin with another room or two"'
"Wow Jenny you make it sound like I'm going to have twins or something"
"Hey you never know Sis" Jenny said then turned to Sophia "Would you like a little brother or sister Sophie?"
Sophie laughed chewing on a small bite of the chocolate chip cookie she had
"Jenny don't encourage her" Abbie smiled "you're worst than her father you know"
"The two of you love each other so much I can honestly see it happening" Jenny said positively "you mark my words"