Both couples were engaged before the spring term ended. Arthur and Crane even organized their efforts and proposed the same evening. "We didn't want anyone thinking we were acting out of peer pressure," Arthur later explained. "Like, if Crane proposed first and then I did..."
The next summer, after graduation, they were married, also on the same day, but that was largely for convenience . The ceremony was held in Sleepy Hollow, of course, and there was much overlap in the guest list. The couples wanted to avoid imposing a difficult choice on people, to either make two long flights from England or choose which wedding they would attend. Plus, Abbie and Crane planned to live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Arthur and Gwen were settling in London.
Crane took a position at Harvard teaching American History and quickly went from being a curiosity ("A British guy teaching American History?") to one of the most sought-after professors on campus. Abbie also works at Harvard, as head of Campus Security, in addition to being a consultant for several local police departments.
Arthur is the curator of the Medieval Europe exhibit at the British Museum in London, happy as can be amongst the suits of armor and ancient tapestries (though occasionally, he still goes on about dragons). Guinevere works from home. She discovered a talent for writing children's books, taking classic literature and spinning the stories to make them entertaining and accessible to children ages nine and under.
With the two Mills sisters separated by an ocean, they utilize Skype at least once a week to stay in touch.
"Corbin... hey, buddy... Corbin?"
"Arthur, he's just a baby," Guinevere laughs, watching their three month old nephew on the computer screen gurgling and stubbornly not paying the least bit of attention to his Uncle Arthur. The sound of their two-year-old daughter waking from her nap catches Gwen's attention and she excuses herself to go tend to her.
In light of Jenny's ongoing battle with CF (which has no cure), Abbie and Gwen asked their husbands to be tested for the disease's genetic markers (Gwen and Abbie had already been tested). Thankfully, they both came up clear. Abbie and Crane had a bit more difficulty in becoming pregnant than Arthur and Gwen, with Corbin arriving just over two years after their daughter.
"If it makes you feel any better, mate, he ignores me half the time as well," Crane says, laughing. On cue, Corbin Ichabod Crane starts fussing in his father's arms.
Abbie refused to give their son the first name "Ichabod" and, to her surprise, Crane supported her unequivocally. They compromised with his parents by keeping it as Corbin's middle name.
"That's because you don't have the right equipment," Arthur says as a tired-looking Abbie takes her son and moves away from the webcam to nurse him.
"Funny," Abbie's sarcastic voice sounds from off-screen.
"It's amazing how quickly one forgets the early stages," Arthur muses. "He's getting big, though. Must take after you."
"I'm still right here, Arthur," Abbie says.
"He'll be taller than you by the time he's ten, Ab," Arthur teases.
"How is he sleeping?" Gwen asks, returning with a sleepy toddler in her arms, dangling a blanket.
"Wish he would sleep longer at night," Abbie answers, reappearing with a blanket draped over her shoulder and the baby, more for her own comfort than theirs.
"I see Orbin?" a small voice chirps when Gwen sits.
"He's eating right now, Gracie," Arthur answers, kissing his daughter. "Did you have a good nap?"
Grace Ygraine Pendragon nods her curly head, still leaning on her mother's shoulder. "Daddy," she says, lifting her head and reaching a hand out.
"Yep," Gwen sighs, smiling and handing Grace to Arthur. Grace is her daddy's girl through and through and has him wrapped around her little finger.
"Oh! Gwen, I saw your latest book yesterday at Barnes & Noble," Abbie says, suddenly remembering. "I may have steered a kid in its direction, too," she adds, smiling.
"Hey, thanks," Gwen says. "I'm thinking about doing Great Expectations next."
"That's pretty ambitious," Abbie says, "and pretty cool." Corbin has finished eating and Abbie passes him to Crane so she can put herself back together. Crane dutifully pats Corbin's back, trying to coax forth a burp or two.
"I'm thinking mice. 'Pip' just seems like a good name for a mouse. And Miss Havisham can be some daft old rat or something," Gwen says. Abbie returns, laughing.
"Orbin!" Grace squeals, excited to see her baby cousin. "I see, Uncle Ich?"
"In a moment, darling," Crane answers. Corbin releases a rather loud burp and Crane raises an eyebrow at his son, checking the cloth slung over his shoulder for any spit up. "Well done, lad," he declares, turning him around so Grace can see him.
"Nice one, Sport," Arthur appraises, nodding. "He definitely has Abbie's eyes," he observes, "now that I can finally see them open."
"The ladies are going to be all over him, that's for sure," Gwen agrees. "Especially if he turns out as smart as the two of you as well."
"Hi, Orbin!" Grace waves her little hand. Crane obligingly lifts Corbin's hand and helps him wave back.
"You guys are coming here for Christmas this year, right?" Abbie asks. "Elyan and his girlfriend are going to be here and Jenny wants to see Grace again in the worst way."
"Well, I don't know..." Arthur says, scratching his head and twisting his mouth to the side.
"Daddy!" Grace exclaims, squirming around to look up at Arthur. "We go... you said we go..." she pleads, putting her small hands on his cheeks.
Arthur hugs his daughter, forgetting she doesn't understand those kinds of jokes yet. "Yes, sweetheart, we're going to Sleepy Hollow to see Grandma and Grandpa and everyone for Christmas. I was teasing Auntie and Uncle."
Crane laughs, and Corbin reaches up and digs his little fingers into his father's beard.
"What do you think of Corbin, Grace?" Guinevere asks her daughter. "Do you like him?"
"Yes," she says, nodding.
"Would you like a baby like him here with us?" Arthur asks, biting back his smile as he sees realization dawn on Abbie's face.
"Yes!" Grace exclaims, nodding enthusiastically. "But, a girl baby!"
Crane laughs again, even harder, and Corbin's fingers hook into his mouth. He kisses the chubby digits and gently removes them, stroking the soft skin as his son's fingers wrap around his thumb.
"Really?" Abbie asks, smiling.
"Yeah," Gwen answers. "Just over two months, though, so still a little early to fully let the cat out of the bag. But, I've been just dying to tell you."
"Me, too," Arthur admits.
"You'll remember those early stages soon enough then," Crane says, recalling Arthur's earlier words.
"Do Mom and Dad know?" Abbie asks.
"Yeah," Gwen says. "We called them before we called you. I still need to tell Elyan."
"Did you see Jenny?" Abbie asks. "I need to call them..."
"Yeah. She looks good," Gwen says. "She was bummed that Grace was sleeping, though."
"Hungry, Daddy," Grace says, growing bored with the conversation. "I have biscuits?"
"You may have one," Gwen says. "If you want more, you can share a banana with Daddy."
"Aw..." Grace pouts.
"I guess I'm on Snack Duty," Arthur says. "Have a good day, guys. Miss you."
"You, too," Crane and Abbie say together.
"Say goodbye to Corbin, Gracie."
"'Bye, Orbin!"
"Have a good snack, Grace. Love you," Crane says.
"Love you, kiddo," Abbie echoes.
"Can you throw kisses?" Arthur whispers to his daughter.
Grace kisses her hand and throws kisses to the computer. Abbie catches hers and pockets it. "For later, when I miss you," she says.
Crane makes a big show of catching his and pressing it to his cheek. "Careful, my beard tickles," he warns, grinning impishly at Grace, who giggles and hides in Arthur's neck. He waves and disappears.
"I love her little accent," Abbie says, chuckling.
"I know," Gwen sighs, smiling. "Biscuits," she chuckles, remembering the conversation she and Abbie had long ago about biscuits and cookies.
Abbie laughs. The sound catches Corbin's attention and he leans towards his mother, wanting her back. Crane hands him over and he snuggles against his mother.
"I should actually get going, too," Gwen says. "Arthur has been known to allow one cookie to become two or three and you guys probably have things to do as well. Plus, I'm super tired and would like to catch a nap before dinner, so..."
"Are you not sleeping well?" Crane asks.
"Oh, I'm sleeping fine. I'm just pregnant," she answers.
"So, it's like last time, then," Abbie adds, remembering. "I still don't see how that's fair. You slept your first trimester away. I was sicker than a dog."
"Sorry," Gwen shrugs, smiling. "Can't control anything about it."
"Love you, Gwennie. Can't wait to see you in person," Abbie says.
"Love you, too, Ab. See you for reals in a couple months," Gwen answers. "Take good care of them, Ichabod."
"It is my greatest pleasure, Miss Gwen," Crane answers. He still calls her "Miss Gwen" occasionally and it always makes Guinevere smile.
They say their final goodbyes and disconnect the call.
Abbie stands, taking her son to the nursery for his nap. He's mostly asleep, making sucking motions with his mouth as he drifts.
She returns to Crane, curling up on his lap. He wraps his arms around her, holding her close. "You should sleep, too, my love," he says, kissing her forehead.
"My eyes are closed now," she answers, settling in.
"As much as I would love to let you sleepon me, I fear it would be quite impractical and you would wake with a very stiff neck," Crane says. He stands, lifting her in his arms.
"I need to... do... something," Abbie protests as he carries her to the bedroom. "I just can't remember what..."
"It cannot be that important then," Crane answers, setting her on their bed. "Sleep, Love. You must take the opportunities when they present themselves. I shall finish the laundry."
"That's what it was," she says, sitting up again. "Laundry."
He coaxes her back down. "I will take care of it, Abbie. Sleep now."
"Okay," Abbie whispers, already drifting.
Across the pond, Guinevere quietly walks to the kitchen, stops just outside the doorway, and watches her husband and daughter. They are having a conversation about dragons. Arthur looks up and tenderly smiles at Guinevere. She blows him a kiss, which he catches and presses to his heart.
"Daddy," Grace says, tugging his hand and breaking the spell. "Uncle Murrin talks to dragons."
"What?" Arthur asks, returning his attention to his daughter as Gwen slips away to take her nap. A few minutes later, Gwen is just burrowing into the covers when she hears conspiratorial whispers outside the door. She bites back a smile and feigns sleep, fully aware that Arthur will know there's no way she would be sleeping yet. The door creaks open and she can hear them tiptoeing to the bed.
"Up, Daddy," Grace whispers.
Guinevere feels her daughter's banana-scented lips press her cheek, leaving a wet spot. "Seep good, Mummy," Grace whispers and Gwen wills her face to be still, though her lips twitch once.
Next, Arthur leans over, gently wipes the wet mark left by his daughter, and kisses Guinevere on the forehead. "I love you so much," he whispers, his lips brushing her ear before kissing the edge of it. Gwen smiles and she knows Arthur sees it.
"Come on, let's go find a book," he whispers to Grace as they exit the bedroom. "What would you like to read?"
"Emeneezer Hedgehog," Grace says, no longer whispering. Gwen snorts a small laugh as she hears the door close.
"Are you sure? That's a Christmas one and it's not even Halloween yet…" Arthur's voice drifts away as they head back to the living room.
Guinevere drifts off to sleep with a smile on her face, content.
-End-
