So sorry for not posting in forever! Just finished up another semester of grad school and an internship a few weeks ago. Been enjoying my winter break so far. Thank you all for your patience and reviews. I appreciate all of them. Y'all are very honest. Lol I like that. And just because I think it should be said, let's remember to be respectful to others. I know this story gets people riled up, and that's okay, but let's remember to be kind when expressing viewpoints. :) Also thank you so much for the support in reading this messy AF fic. It was a journey for everyone reading as well as the characters. And now it's come to an end. Enjoy these last two chapters of the story. :)


Abbie wakes up in Mel's room. A fuzzy blanket covers her. Mel's still asleep and tucked under her comforter. Abbie kisses her baby girl's forehead and fingers through her hair before she gets up to stretch and pee. On the way downstairs, she yawns. Crane's in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Blueberry French toast. Mel's favorite.

"Good morning." He's over the stove, flipping and flattening with the spatula.

"Morning." She sits at the counter. "How did you sleep?"

He sets a coffee in front of her. "I've had better nights. And yourself?"

Her eyes fall into her mug. "Same."

He finishes up the toast. "Is she still sleeping?"

"Yeah."

"We shall let her rest then. I can imagine she's exhausted."

Abbie nods, though she's looking at his back. His apology still surprises her. And she doesn't know what to make of it. An apology should come from her lips, too. He's not the only one who has to repent. She misses him, wants them to start over and be a new, shiny couple, a better family. But where does she start? How can they be genuine without throwing sharp pebbles? Without making the other bleed?

"Do you need help with breakfast?"

He turns to her with a tiny smile. The old memories spark. They cooked together early on in their relationship, but it was more like mischievous behavior for them. She snuck her finger into his bowl of sweet batter. He swiped a piece of her baker's bread. They bumped hips, grazed shoulders, smiled sly. Winked. Kissed necks, cheeks, or lips while reaching for a spoon or the cayenne pepper. Flirts, they were.

"That would be lovely."

She whisks the eggs and dips her hip into his.


As she sets the table, she spots Mel rubbing her eyes in the doorway. She's in her purple onesie. Crane picks her up, kisses her cheeks multiple times.

"How's my little love?" he says.

Mel yawns, shrugs. "Hungry."

"Well, lucky for you, your mother and I prepared your favorite."

"Blueberry French toast?"

"Yup," Abbie says.

Mel kisses Crane's nose. Then she wiggles out of his arms to run towards Abbie for a hug.

"Thank you, Mama and daddy."

"You're welcome, sweet pea."

They help her in a chair and fix her plate.

"Can we watch a movie?" Mel says with a mouthful.

"Of course," Abbie says.

Mel suddenly puts her fork down. "Are you and daddy better now?"

Abbie glances at Crane. He doesn't know what to say either. It makes her realize once again just how much their arguing impacts her.

"We're working on it, honey. Not to worry."

"I like you and daddy happy."

She looks at Crane again. "Me, too."

"I couldn't agree more." He grips her hand while she prepares herself to say more.

"I believe both of us owe you an apology, Melody. Your father and I haven't been nice to each other. You've heard us yelling and fighting. We never want you to see us in a bad place, sweetie. We're very sorry for frightening and worrying you. And we never ever want to cause you to have a bad day. It scared us when you had an asthma attack. We don't want that to happen again, and we'll do our part to make sure it doesn't. You're important to us, kiddo. You understand?"

"I understand."

"And we hope you always know that our arguments aren't because of you. You have not done anything wrong. Alright, love?" Crane says.

"Alright, daddy." She finishes her French toast.

They eat in the quiet. Crane doesn't let go of her hand. She doesn't want him to.


They watch a Disney film that Mel falls asleep on. Crane carries her to her room. Then they go to theirs.

"You think she'll be okay, Crane?"

"I do believe she will be fine, yes." He sits on the bed. "We can't put her through this again, Abbie."

He looks as though he's about to cry, and she kneels in front of him.

"No, we can't." She pauses. "Ichabod, I'm sorry, too."

Her spine is light. It feels good to apologize, to say it and mean it.

"The both of us hurt each other," he says. "I stopped being supportive of you when I should have stood by your side. You needed me, your partner, and I failed you. You found what you needed in another man, in Mr. Ashford. He gave you what I chose not to provide anymore. I would also like to apologize for disrespecting you. I slept with another woman, with our daughter's caretaker. I crossed the line with Miss Sophie. I disregarded our wedding vows and promises to each other as well as our home. I've even called you an unfit mother and compared you to her, on more than one occasion. I pushed you away when all you required from me was encouragement. I truly am sorry, Abigail, and I hope you can forgive me in your own time."

Abbie's near tears herself, and she takes his hands. "Thank you, Ichabod. I'm very sorry I hurt you by sleeping with Ash. I shouldn't have done that, even if I was angry and hurt myself. That wasn't the way to handle things. I knew better. I'm sorry I put my job before my family. If I'm honest, some days I didn't want to come home. I didn't want to fight with you, so I thought it was easier to hide behind work. I have thrown my position in your face. At times, I've made you feel bad about your job, like it wasn't enough. You provide for her just as I do. I appreciate all your sacrifices for her and for me. You started teaching online just to be with Mel while I worked in my new position, even before her asthma. I don't take that for granted."

He kisses her cheek and forehead. She's glad everything is out in the open now. Apologies are being made. They are talking and hearing. Really talking and hearing.

"You've sacrificed for her, too. You work long hours just so she's able to be homeschooled or have adequate healthcare. I don't take that for granted either. You are Superwoman, indeed. However, you don't have to be. You don't have to shoulder it all. I'm sorry if I pressured you into that role, for making you feel like it was required. Everyone needs help. It's my duty, as your husband, to assist you when you need it."

She holds his cheeks in her palms. "That means a lot to me. I can't be perfect. I can only do the best I can as a mom, a wife, and a professional in the workforce. I would like more support. And I'll see what I can do about my hours, so I'm not working through the night."

"I'll have more patience and understanding if your job demands you stay late or travel. I will make accommodations as the situation calls for. After all, we were doing our best even before Melody's asthma. I have no doubt we can do it again."

"You think we'll be able to get back to us eventually?"

He nods, squeezes her hands. "We've already taken the first step."

Now, it was all about keeping their words.


Mel's up from her nap, so they decide to make chicken quesadillas for lunch. They're at the table, eating and laughing as they listen to Crane tell funny stories about his online students. Abbie's phone interrupts. It's an emergency call from work. Ash needs permission to run intel for one of their cases. Before she steps out, she says she'll be about twenty minutes, but she's an hour and fifteen total. Mel and Crane finished eating and the kitchen's clean. Her plate is wrapped. She's feeling like she's failed them again, like she's missed out. They're in the living room, but Crane comes into the kitchen. She expects him to be mad, to revert to his ways.

"I'm sorry I missed lunch. I didn't expect the call—"

His arms wrap around her waist. He smiles tiny, kisses the corner of her lips, says, "All is forgiven, love. Mel and I were disappointed that you weren't able to finish lunch with us, but we understand. I understand. Your job is quite unpredictable. It's alright."

"Thank you."

"I am trying, just as I know you are." He kisses her.


It's Abbie's first day back from vacation. She wasn't able to take off work early. She's so backlogged with cases. Her and Ash had a talk this morning. She told him that their relationship has to be strictly professional.

"We're trying to make it work," she told him.

He was disappointed. The frowns in his face said so. He was sincere about it though. "I understand. I wish you nothing but the best." Then he excused himself.

Abbie's on her lunch break now, about to call Crane to tell him she won't be able to make it home by 5pm when she sees him and Mel walk through her office door. He carries bottled teas while Mel holds a bag of sandwiches. They're all smiles.

She gets out her chair to kiss them both. "What are you two doing here?"

"We figured we'd visit you for lunch," Crane says. "I wasn't sure if you would be able to get off work in a timely fashion, so here we are. Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

They sit at her desk and munch away.

"How was she today with her homeschool group?" Abbie says.

Mel's wearing headphones and her eyes stick to the tablet Crane got her. She's watching a movie.

Crane smooths Mel's hair down. She grins at them both with bread between her teeth. Abbie chuckles and shakes her head.

"She was fine. There were no problems. Her asthma has been under control."

"How's she doing in math? I know she's struggling in that right now."

"She's brought her grades up, actually. Mel has the highest grade in the group—a 95 to be exact."

Abbie puts down her sandwich. "When did this happen? Last month she had a C."

"She's had tutoring."

"From who?"

Abbie doesn't recall him telling her about a tutor.

He's quiet.

Then it comes together for her.

"It was Sophie, wasn't it?"

She's kind of lost her appetite now. What else had she missed? What else hasn't Crane told her?

His eyes avoid her. "Yes."

"I knew you were pissed at me, but I wanted to know about this. Her grades matter to me as well."

She's hurt about it, but she's choosing not to let it interfere with their progress.

"I'm sorry, Abbie. I should have told you."

"Are there other things I don't know? Other events I missed that….Sophie were apart of?" Her skin is tight; her face is hot.

"Yes. There was an awards ceremony. I refused to notify you about it because I assumed you wouldn't show up. In addition, I was also very angry at you. Therefore, I invited Sophie. It was wrong, and I would like to apologize. I'm sorry for purposefully excluding you."

She remembers they're making progress, that they are apologizing and trying to move forward, except she doesn't really have words for this. She quickly wipes the tears that fall on her cheeks. Crane tries to comfort her; she won't let him. Her throat clears.

"I have to get back to work."

"Abbie—"

"Thank you for bring Mel and for bringing lunch. I'll see you this evening."

Crane begins to pack all their food, helps Mel with her jacket. He attempts to kiss Abbie on her cheek, though she moves her head for him to miss.

Abbie stoops down to Mel. "Alright, kiddo, be good. I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Yeah, mommy." Mel hugs her.

She wants to cry her eyes out right then, but only squeezes her baby a little tighter. "I love you. See you in a bit."

"I love you, too."

Crane tries to speak to her again. She won't let him get his words out.

"I can't right now, Ichabod."

He only nods and quietly exits her office.


Abbie gets home at 9pm. Though Mel's already in bed, Abbie kisses her goodnight anyway before leaving her room. Crane's in theirs, sitting on their bed. He stands, rushes out his sorries.

She closes the door. "I don't know what to say, Crane. I knew you were punishing me, just not to this extent." Her anger gets out of check. "That was fucking low. I would never treat you like that."

"There are no amount of apologies I can make to atone for the mistakes I've made and for the hurt I've inflicted upon you."

"There isn't." And she's crying again, letting it all out.

He tries to comfort her, to hold her, only to be pushed away.

"You don't get to love me right now, Ichabod. No."

Those feelings come back: the stings from his comments about her mothering, finding out about Sophie, everything in between. She needs space right now and volunteers to sleep in the guest room for the night.


Sleep isn't around, so Abbie stares at the ceiling. It's midnight. Her mind's thinking and thinking. Thinking and thinking. Does she want to be in this marriage? Can they really move past this? They've just started the healing process and now there's more to heal from. More they have to fight through. This could have ended worse though. She could've cussed him out completely; he could've thrown her absences in her face. But they didn't. This was progress. A lot of progress since their last major argument. Her thoughts tumble every which way until a knock halts them. She sits up, says, "Come in."

It's Crane. Of course. He sits on the bed. Quiet.

"Is that all you've excluded me from?"

"Yes. That is all."

"This pisses me off." She inhales. "A lot." Exhales. "I don't think I'll ever get over this. You aren't forgiven yet. Not even close. Bu at least you told me. I'm not excusing it. Although, if we're going to move forward, we can at least be honest about things and work on it from there. That's the only way to go, the only way to get back to us."

He takes her hand, nods. "I agree."

She sighs, invites him under the covers with her. They lay still. Breathe. Listen to the night strike 1am. They fall asleep.