"This one, mama?"

At her daughter's nervous inquiry, she gave a small smile and laid her hand over Kahlan's to guide it to the correct keys. "Right here."

As Kahlan began attempting to follow the simple notes she'd shown her moments before, a sudden bang came against the piano from her other side, making both her and Kahlan jump slightly.

"Jeremy, stop!" Kahlan squealed, thoroughly upset at his disruption of her playing.

His response, of course, was to stick his tongue out at his sister.

"Jeremy..." His blue eyes journeyed to hers, an innocent expression replacing his previously teasing one. Unable to contain her grin, she gently grabbed his hands from the keys and placed them in his lap. "Let Kahlan finish, then you can try."

He bit his lip before dropping his gaze to his hands where he was twisting them together in an effort to remain still. As Kahlan once again began to play, she noticed his legs begin swinging beneath the bench right before he kicked the underside of the piano.

With a groan, Kahlan threw him another glare as she pointed a finger at him. "Mama, tell him to stop! He's ruining everything!"

Sighing, she turned to Jeremy, who was frowning back at his sister in equal measure. "Jeremy, sweetheart, you-

"Jeremy, get down from there."

Jeremy's whole body went rigid at Abraham's voice. Clenching her jaw, she turned to look at her clearly agitated husband. "Abraham, he's fine. He's only listening."

"My son isn't going to be involved with something so frivolous." His gaze fell on Jeremy in a hard manner. "Outside, Jeremy. Go find something else to occupy your time with."

Jeremy glanced up at her, a defeated look on his face as he silently pled with her not to make him go. Giving him a reassuring smile, she leaned forward and kissed his head. "Go on, sweetheart." She turned to Kahlan. "Kahlan, go with your brother to the yard."

Kahlan frowned. "But-"

"Now, Kahlan," she whispered, raising her eyebrows slightly, hoping her daughter would listen rather than putting up her usual fight. "I'll join you in a moment."

Kahlan released an agitated breath as she slid off the bench and tugged at Jeremy's arm. "Come on, Jeremy."

Just as soon as she heard the front door close behind them, she spun to Abraham in anger. "I don't like it when you treat him that way. He's a little boy. It's not hurting anything for him to be with Kahlan and I during lessons."

He took a seat in a chair by the hearth as he flipped through a book. "Since when have I ever cared what you like?"

Shaking her head, she gritted her teeth and stood her ground, refusing to let the issue drop. "Those are my children, Abraham."

He raised an eyebrow as he finally deemed her worthy enough for a glance. "Really? Last I checked, I'm the one who provides for them. I give them everything they need." He leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "I don't appreciate the tone you've been giving me lately, Katrina. Must we begin teaching you how to respect me again?"

An overwhelming amount of dread filled her, causing her body to tense. "No, I just..." She glanced down to her hands, which she was twisting nervously against her belly. "I love them, Abraham. They're my world."

The sounds of his boots as they clicked across the floor set her on edge, but she couldn't bring herself to look up for the fear of what she would find. When his hands slid about her waist, she stiffened even further.

"Then, do as I say and we'll all get along better." His hand gripped her chin, tilting her head up to him where she found exactly what she had been attempting to avoid. "I want you."

She shook her head, barely managing to whisper, "Kahlan and Jeremy are waiting for me."

His mouth found her jaw, trailing to her ear, sending her every nerve straight to their edge. "Call on Mary to come for them."

"Mary's out of town," she reasoned.

He pulled back, his grip tightening in ways she would surely still feel the next day. "Then, find someone else. I'll be expecting you upstairs."

With that, he moved past her and she finally released the breath she'd been holding. He'd been gone for the past week, leaving her in peace, but since he'd returned earlier in the morning, she'd been on edge waiting for him to ask this of her.

As she made her way into the kitchen, she informed Beth, their housemaid, to care for the children until she returned and to keep them out of the house for a time. Then, with a deep breath, she made her way up the stairs to the hell that was her bedroom.

In their six years of marriage, she'd finally reached a certain numbness in these moments. With his body hovering over hers, touching her how and where he liked, she tended to tune everything out, responding only when it was required of her. The majority of the time, she kept her gaze on the ceiling, avoiding looking at him. It was a habit she'd formed after months of his refusing to allow her to close her eyes. His constant need to make sure she was thinking of no one but him had nearly driven her mad at first, but, now, she didn't tend to think of anything at all except for counting the minutes as they ticked by. When he finally emptied himself, he rolled off of her, his breathing erratic. "Perhaps this time."

Of course.

His want of another child. Thankfully, her potion had done its job all those years ago. There'd always been a fear in the back of her mind that it hadn't worked, but after numerous attempts on his part, she'd remained unaffected, to her great relief. The fact that none of the other women he ventured out with fell with child either reassured her as well. Abraham von Brunt would never have the child he so desperately wanted. The amount of pleasure she took at that thought never ceased to brighten her mood.

"Perhaps," she whispered before sitting up and reaching for her clothing.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a hand on her thigh.

Without looking at him, she answered evenly, "It's nearly time for supper. The children need to wash up."

He sat up as well. "I'm not finished with you."

Swallowing down the urge to roll her eyes, she answered, "May we please continue, tonight?" Her eyes fell to the sheets. "I'll do anything you want."

His hand slid to turn her gaze to his. "I intend to hold you to that."

With a nod, she rose and dressed before making her way down the stairs. Upon entering the sitting room, to her surprise, she found her father perched upon the sofa with Kahlan and Jeremy on each side of him, listening intently to whatever it was he was telling them.

"Father," she greeted with a smile. "I wasn't expecting you."

"Mama," Jeremy squealed, jumping up and rushing to her. "Look."

Taking in Jeremy's offered hand, she found a slender wooden sword clutched in it. "Oh, that's lovely, Jeremy. Did you thank your grandfather for your gift?"

Her father chuckled. "He certainly did. His enthusiasm over the gift was pleasantly surprising."

Running her fingers though her son's hair, she smiled. "He's bound and determined to make a soldier of himself one day."

"Is that so?" her father asked. "That's quite an admirable ambition you have there, Jeremy."

"I'm going to raise horses," Kahlan chimed in, ever one to turn the conversation back to herself.

"Well," her father grinned with a tap to Kahlan's nose. "A girl after my own heart."

Smiling, Katrina made her way over and kissed her father's cheek. "Are you joining us for dinner?"

With a nod, he answered, "If that's alright."

"Of course, it is." She turned to Jeremy and Kahlan. "Both of you, go wash up for dinner."

"But mama-" Kahlan's protest died off as she caught her stern gaze. "Alright."

As the two of them began dragging their feet into the kitchen, her father chuckled. "They are something."

She turned back to him, eyebrows raised. "You have no idea."

"Ichabod would be proud."

Her smile fell along with her eyes.

Ichabod.

It was such a rare thing for his name to be mentioned in conversation. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she'd said his name out loud. The idea that it had possibly been months since she'd last acknowledged her love sent a wave of guilt through her. His name had become some sort of unspoken agreement between her, Abraham, and everyone else to never be spoken of again. It had been mostly due to the fact that as soon as Abraham had learned she was with child, he'd packed them up and forced her to move to his home in Pennsylvania. In a town where she knew no one and no one knew her, the topic of Ichabod had never been brought up. Everyone always assumed Abraham was her first and only husband as well as the father of both of her children. The only visitors she'd received in all the recent years passed had been Mary and her father when they'd had a moment to visit, but even they had been cautious of mentioning him in their handful of visits. She was never entirely sure if it was because of Abraham's wrath, or her own heart that they had chosen to do such a thing. She supposed it was of little matter now. It had only been just over two weeks prior that they'd returned to Sleepy Hollow due to Abraham's father's passing and she was just now beginning to venture out into public in order to reacquaint herself with the town.

"Forgive me, Katrina. I shouldn't have-"

"No," she quickly cut in, her eyes finding his. "Don't apologize. He would be proud." She chuckled. "Actually, I'm pretty sure he'd be annoyingly proud."

She could almost imagine the bragging he would do in regards to their children, running about town as if any little thing they did was some extraordinarily significant thing to every person he came across.

"Jeremy is beginning to exhibit some of his qualities."

Smiling, she nodded. "He has all of his nervous ticks."

"Yes, I noticed that. He's also quite intelligent for his age. Kahlan as well."

With another sigh, she whispered, "Thank you."

He faced her, a frown creasing his features. "For what?"

Catching her father's eyes, she answered, "For allowing me to talk about him. It's been so long..."

His expression softened. "Of course, sweetheart. Of course."