"You shouldn't be out here alone."

Startled at the sudden intrusion into the silence, his body tensed before his eyes fell closed. Why was she here? Of all the times for her to seek him out, she chose this one. Sucking in a deep breath, he turned to find her standing a few yards from him. "I'm fine."

With a small smile, she ventured forward in a, to his surprise, playful manner and joined him at the shoreline. "Thomas didn't seem to think so. He told me I should come talk some sense into you, that you wouldn't listen to reason."

At her knowing expression, he chuckled. Thomas had never been known for his subtlety. Gaze back out over the water, he shook his head. "Thomas. He never knows when to tend to his own affairs."

"He cares for you," she whispered. "I'm glad you have a friend like him."

A moment of silence passed between them as he struggled to find something to say to her, anything to say to her. However, nothing was coming to mind.

"So, what is it?"

Frowning, he returned his gaze to hers, which was boring into him. "What?"

"The reason Thomas thought I should visit you."

"Oh," he whispered awkwardly, his mind desperately searching for an excuse as he shrugged. "It was nothing really."

Eyes trained on the gentle flow of the river, he found the longer it took her to respond, the harder it became not to look at her again. Finally giving in, he gave her a small glance to find her frowning. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she quickly responded, her gaze falling to her hands as she twisted them together in clear agitation. "It's just...there was a time when you would tell me every thought in your head."

With a sigh, he turned to her fully, his heart torn. "Things aren't as simple as they were when we were children, Katrina. They're..."

She gave a small nod. However, her face betrayed her hurt. "I understand. You need to protect yourself...from me."

"Katrina..." he whispered, desperately wanting to reach out to her.

In a seemingly shrugged off manner, she shook her head and pulled something out of the small bag she was carrying. "This is for you," she said, holding out a small object to him.

With a frown, he accepted the offering and with a touch of surprise discovered it to be a small carving in the shape of a star. Turning it over in his hand, he found William's name carved into the back of it.

"William took to woodwork shortly after your departure," she said softly. "He made that for you and wanted me to tell you that whenever he looks to the stars, he thinks of you...because he knows you'll think of him."

"How many are there?"

Startled by William's question, he glanced down at his son, who was gazing contentedly up at the night sky. "Oh, I'm not sure. A great many."

William gave him a small frown. "I thought you knew everything. Mama said you're the smartest man alive."

"Did she?" he asked with a grin, purposing to tease Katrina about this new information at a later time. "Well, even the smartest man alive doesn't know all the secrets of the universe."

His son shrugged and returned his attention to the stars. "Are they everywhere?"

"Yes, they are." He lifted his hand to gesture to them. "When I was a boy, my grandfather, his name was Jeremy Crane, would travel a great deal of the time. It always saddened me because I so enjoyed his company as he would tell these stories of his grand adventures and all the wonders he'd seen. So, one day, upon his departure, he told me that the world was a very big place, but no matter where he was, whenever he looked to the stars, he and I would be sharing the same majestic sight." He smiled at the memory. "It always made me feel connected to him, close to him."

After a moment, he chanced a glance at his son, who was staring at him, seemingly riveted by his small tale. When William realized his story was finished, he gave a hopeful expression. "Will you think of me when you leave?"

Heart constricting, he swallowed down the lump in his throat and nodded. "Always, William." He smiled in a manner that gave way to a secret. "It shall be our story now."

"Just the two of us?" William asked excitedly.

"Yes, William," he answered with a smile. "Just the two of us."

"It's beautiful," he whispered, suddenly overcome with emotion that was threatening to take him to his knees. It certainly didn't help that he could feel her gaze boring into him, which was the reason he couldn't quite bring himself to look at her. Looking at her was never the answer when he wanted to maintain the ability to hold himself together. She was forever both his greatest strength and greatest weakness.

"I can heal you if you want. I would have done it earlier, but it wasn't exactly the place for such a display."

At her offer, he looked down at his hand and shook his head. "It's fine. I've had much worse."

"I wish you would let me," she gently pushed. "It's rather deep and I'm worried it will get infected. Camp isn't exactly the best place for such injuries."

She was right, of course. Infection was a cause for concern, not that he thought it was likely. However, the concern in her voice was what had him nodding his consent. "Very well. If you think it's best."

Holding his hand out to her, she gently accepted it and covered it with her own. The familiar warmth of her magic filled him as he observed the cut close, the threads from the stitches falling away as the sensation crept over him. No matter how many times he saw such things, they still somehow managed to amaze him. That things like magic and witches were real, and his love was one with them, was quite remarkable.

When no visible sign of his injury remained, she whispered, "There, good as new."

Though, she was finished, she didn't release his hand. Instead, she held it fast, going so far as to thread their fingers together. It didn't even seem as though she was aware she'd done such a thing, but that it had occurred more out of habit than anything else. Her touch sent shivers down him to the point that he had to remind himself to breathe. After swallowing down his nerves, he took a step closer to her and brought his free hand up to push a few strands of her red hair behind her ear. He didn't fail to notice the fact that her chest was rising and falling at a pace faster than normal, which permitted him the knowledge that he was affecting her in much the same way she did him. She was so close. Dropping his hand to her neck, he pulled her flush against him and laid his head to her shoulder.

"I missed you," he breathed into her warm skin.

Her hands slid up his chest, one wrapping around his middle and the other threading through his hair as she turned into him. "I missed you, too. I've missed you so much, my love."

Feeling himself begin to lose himself in her scent, he voiced the first thought that came to him. "Marry me."

The immediate stiffening of her body brought a feeling like he might actually empty his stomach to the forefront. When she finally moved her head back to look at him, a shocked expression was present on her face. "What did you say?"

His eyes locked on hers as he tried to wrap his mind around what he'd just done. He couldn't believe he'd said it, but he found his resolve with Thomas's words echoing in his head. "Marry me, Katrina."

A frown creased her face as she stuttered out, "You-" She shook her head. "You know we can't."

"There's a town not four miles from here," he informed, his confidence rising. "We could go there tonight and be back by morning. No one would ever know."

Her mouth was open slightly as she stared at him, her green eyes swirling with emotion. "Ichabod, my love, nothing would make me happier than to be your wife." Her hands slid to cup his face. "But that's impossible for us. We've been through this. If my coven-"

"They don't have to know," he reasoned quickly. "We've managed to keep our affair a secret for nearly a decade, Katrina, as well as the fact that we share children." Taking her hands in his own, he held them between their bodies. "This would be for us. For once, we could have something just for us. Something no one can take."

"Ichabod, the reason we didn't marry a decade ago hasn't changed. My love for you could jeopardize the future and-"

"And what?" he asked, everything becoming so clear. "The future will always be uncertain, Katrina. Fate has brought us together time and again. We were separated by an ocean for thirteen years and yet somehow... We found each other." He pressed closer to her. "We are meant to be together. I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life."

She was quiet for a moment before she gave more hesitation. "And what about my power? What if I have to choose between you and the world?"

"Would staying away from me," he began. "Not becoming my wife, make you love me less? Would it change your choice?"

Doubt clouded her eyes as she tore them from him and looked out over the lake. He watched her brow crease in thought as all the emotion she normally kept bottled up swirl across her face. "No." She shook her head in defeat. "I'd still always choose you. I'd choose you each and every time."

"Then, you have your answer," he said, his inner excitement growing. "Now, answer me." He tightened his hold on her fingers. "Will you marry me? Tonight?"

Her eyes came back to him and ever so slowly a smile crept into her features, which only filled him with more anticipation. "Yes."

Raising his eyebrows, unsure if this was real or a cruel dream, he repeated, "Yes? You said, yes? As in...the affirmative?"

A light laugh escaped her before she leaned up and placed a soft kiss to his lips. "Yes, Ichabod. I'll marry you. Tonight."

"Hey, Crane, you awake?"

"Yes, Thomas, I'm awake."

Thomas spun around so quickly, Ichabod thought he surely had whiplash. For a moment, his head looked from the tent to him, then back again. "How did you slip by me?"

Well, that was an easy enough answer. He'd simply never gone to sleep. "I got an early start to the day. I didn't really sleep last night."

"Oh," Thomas said in a knowing tone. "Katrina keep you up?"

His eyes jerked to Thomas, a sliver of fear consuming him. "What?"

"Your were up thinking about Katrina," Thomas explained with a frown. "I take it she found you last night."

Relief flooded him as he nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, she found me." And married me. He still couldn't believe it. They'd made the trek to town in excellent time. The Reverend they woke was none too pleased, but they didn't really care. They'd hurried him along and exchanged vows under the moonlight that was shining more brightly than usual in his opinion. Though, Katrina had said that was all in his head and no such thing had happened. It was all rather rushed, however, as they had known they would be pushing it to reach camp once more before daybreak, but they had. With a kiss in the early morning light, they'd parted ways not twenty minutes ago.

"And?"

Frowning at Thomas, he was uncertain what his friend wanted. "And...what?"

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Did the two of you work everything out? Or are you going to continue with your dancing around each other awkwardly?"

"Yes," he answered softly. "We came to an agreement." Thomas looked as though he wished for him to elaborate, but he wasn't giving another thing up. "Shall we see what our tasks for the day are?"

Letting out a disappointed breath, Thomas sighed, "Fine."

As Thomas stalked past him in a brooding manner, he found himself unable to contain his smile as he turned to follow, thoughts of his wife at the forefront of his mind.