Reaching up to the top of the closet on her tiptoes Abbie manages to pull down the red and silver wrapped present, trying not to wake her husband or her son.
Sneaking quietly down the hallway she sits down by the Christmas tree, the fireplace casting a warm orange glow.
The sound of footsteps patters down the hall as Abbie slides the present under the tree. "Oh, it's you Jenny."
Jenny sits down beside her, laying her head on Abbie's shoulder. "We didn't get Christmas like this growing up. Hell, we barely had a Christmas at all. I'm glad we can give Graceson good memories as he grows up and make a few of our own."
Abbie takes her sister's hand, kissing the back of it. "I'm sorry that you got tossed from one home to another and I'll always carry that guilt." She bites at her bottom lip as she pours her heart out. "I've got more than any woman should have. The love of a good man, a beautiful healthy child, a sister than loves me more than she should and a good friend that is going to be my brother in law soon."
Jenny playful slaps her arm, rolling her eyes. "Just because I'm dating Luke doesn't mean we are getting married … okay?"
"Luke is a good man Jenny; don't be afraid to love him. I cared for him once; I know how big his heart is." They both turn when Luke walks into the living room.
With big grins they turn back to the tree, Abbie pulling Graceson red wagon out in front. The sun was still hours from coming up but Abbie was too excited to sleep, she had been waiting for Graceson to be old enough to enjoy the holiday.
Luke walks out of the kitchen, two large cups of coffee in his hands. "You two are like little kids. I thought Graceson was the only kid in the house."
Jenny kisses him as she takes the cup. "Thanks babe. Uh … we are living vicariously through my nephew. You just wait till you open my gift then we'll see how the kid is."
The three of them sit by the fire, the low glow and warm heat making Abbie sleepy. She takes the throw from the couch, curling up by the fire. As she bundles up she can feel Ichabod sit down behind her. "Perhaps you should come back to bed."
"Perhaps, but I really want to watch the sun come up." She smiles back at him as he picks her up in his arms.
Jenny and Luke smirk at them, the new couple curling up on the couch. "Don't wake the baby." Jenny calls out to them as they disappear down the hallway.
Putting Abbie down on her feet he gives her a soft loving kiss. "Get dressed; I want to watch the sun rise properly with you."
Adorning her jeans, sweater, boots, heavy winter coat and scarf she slides on her gloves and readies herself for the chilly walk down to the lake.
The sound of crunching snow is the only thing they hear, a new frozen snow blanketing the ground and trees. Ichabod takes her gloved hand, walking out to the lake and onto the dock.
A break of sunlight begins to peek over the horizon, the clouds parting to give way to the glorious sun behind them. Ichabod pulls Abbie to him, his arms wrapped around her waist. He rests his chin on her head, her body feeling so good close to him. In the five years he had known her he still couldn't phantom how this beautiful creature in his arms was his. Even with a sunrise so magnificent it could make God stand in awe, he can't pull his eyes away from her smile, her honey brown eyes, her heart stopping beauty that made his pulse quicken daily.
A low hum rumbles from Abbie's chest, the sun causing the waters of the lake to look like liquid fire. "Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?"
Kissing the top of her head, his whispers back to her. "Yes … yes it is Lieutenant."
Pulling herself from his arms she furrows her eyebrows, her lips pursed. "You haven't called me that in a very long time. What makes you do it now?"
His large hands cup her face, his lips tasting her with great enthusiasm. "You are my Abigail, my Miss Mills. You are my Abbie, my greatest love and you will forever be my Lieutenant."
He pulls a small package from his coat pocket, a coy smile on his face. She takes the shiny blue box, opening it carefully. "Is this why you really brought me out here?"
Nodding his head he watches patiently while inside he screams for her to open it faster.
She opens the box to relieve a black metal cuff bracelet, unsure why Ichabod would give her such a plain looking piece of jewelry. "Its … beautiful." She twists her lips as she takes it from the box.
His long fingers take the bracelet, holding it up to her ear. The first thing she hears is Graceson's voice saying "I love you mommy." The next voice is Ichabod's and his words bring tears to her eyes. "To my beautiful Lieutenant, Happy Christmas."
She takes the bracelet from him, trying to figure out where the sound is coming from. He gives her a slight chuckle as he shows her out it works. "Morales had it made for me. It's a voice vibration bracelet and I am still pondering how the jewelry manufactured our voices within the metal but alas … here it is. Do you like it my love?"
Abbie slides the cuff over her wrist, rubbing her finger over the slot on the side. Graceson's sweet voice floats through the snowy air, her tears falling again. "Love it … oh yes. Not as much as I love you."
The snow, the sky and the water give off a radiant crimson blush with the sun now cresting high above. They walk back to the cabin to find Jenny carrying Graceson in the kitchen. "He hasn't seen the w … a … g … o … n yet. I was going to get him something to eat before he dived into the tree."
Ichabod walks over to Morales, thanking him for assisting him in finding Abbie's present. Morales looks over to the tree, giving Ichabod a great big grin. "Wonder what she's got for you. She kept it a secret from even Jenny."
They have a light breakfast, Abbie showing her bracelet to Jenny with a giant smile on her face.
They sit Graceson down on the floor, his little feet flying towards the tree. He breaks out in a squeal when he sees the red wagon, clapping his hands and trying to climb inside. "Pull me Daddy."
Taking the handle of the wagon Ichabod pulls the wagon away from the tree, his son's blue eyes shining brighter than the lights on the tree.
Jenny squats down to the tree, handing out the presents. They all gather around, Graceson ripping through the packages like a wild man. "Mine … mine too." He giggles as he takes one box after the other. Ichabod pulls his son up to his lap, kissing his cheek. "What do you say to Aunt Jenny and Luke?
Rubbing his eyes he twitches his mouth much like his mother does. "Thank you … wuv you Aunt Jen."
Jenny opens the present from Luke, giving him a smoldering glare. "Work out weights. Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Actually I got you a work bench complete with weights. We can put it in the back room that Abbie uses for storage. Wait … you have one more you haven't opened." He hands her a box that could very well be a ring. For the first time in her life since she was a teenager she trembles inside, her brown eyes lifting to her sister.
A gold necklace with a golden key dangling from it rests in a velvet box, Jenny twisting her face. "Uh … I like it but I'm not sixteen. I don't need the key to your heart Morales."
Luke takes the necklace, placing it around her neck. Kissing her cheek he explains the real meaning behind the necklace. "All your life Jennifer you've been looking for a place to belong, never fitting in anywhere. As long as you're with me you'll always have a home, some place safe to come to. This key is not the key to my heart but the key to my life."
Turning her back to him, she walks outside, tears streaming down her face. Luke looks at Abbie, the expression on his face one of complete confusion. "Did I do something wrong?"
Abbie hugs him, turning him towards the door. "No Luke, you did everything right. Now go get her and bring her back in."
With Graceson passed out on the floor with his toys all around him, Ichabod and Abbie exchange gifts. Luke and Jenny sit down on the couch, watching Abbie's face beam brightly as Ichabod opens his first gift. A picture of Abbie and Graceson and a new wallet with his name on the leather, the picture more precious than anything she could have given him. "Thank you my love. I shall always cherish it."
"I knew when I took that picture you'd need a wallet to put it in. I'm glad you like it but your real present is in this box." She pulls the glittering red and silver box towards him, her heart thrumming in her chest.
He glances up at her as he peels the paper from the box, his fingers flipping the top lid over. Lifting a white t-shirt with black lettering on it up, he reads the screen printing on the front. "World's Greatest Dad … Again."
Jenny lets out a giddy scream. "Oh my God!"
Ichabod looks up at his wife, Abbie all smiles. "Sweetheart … do you not get it?"
He reads the t-shirt again, the last word sticking in his mind. "Again, as in anew, repeated. Abigail are you trying to tell me your with child … again?"
She nods her head as she wraps her arms around his neck. "Congrats, you're going to be a Dad again."
Graceson wakes up, his big blue eyes still clouded with sleep. "More presents momma?"
Abbie and Ichabod pick him up, the three of them having a beautiful, supernatural free day.