"Oh, my, if it isn't our Katrina!"

With a bright smile at the familiar voice, she turned to face an approaching Gregory, the town's jail keeper, and his wife, Anne. "Mr. and Mrs. Bartley," she greeted. "It's so good to see you. It's been far too long."

When the woman wrapped her arms around her, she couldn't contain her happiness at the warmth she felt at the mother like hug; the first she'd had in she couldn't remember how many years.

"How long have you been home?" Gregory asked as soon as his wife had released her.

"Two weeks," she answered apologetically. "I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit yet, but we've been so busy getting everything in order at the house. It's kept me quite busy."

"Of course, of course," he replied, waving his hands as though her explanation were needless. "It's so wonderful to see you, dear. Sleepy Hollow hasn't been the same without you."

She nodded as she glanced up the street, taking in the sight of the place she'd spent so much of her childhood. "I've missed it. There's truly no place like home." She caught Gregory's kind brown eyes. "Or like precious friends."

He smiled understandingly. "Truly."

"Mama!" Quickly turning about, she found Kahlan and Jeremy running toward her with her father trailing not far behind, clearly trying with difficulty to keep up with his young charges. "Grandfather let us feed his horses," Kahlan exclaimed as she stopped abruptly before her, her small hands tangling in her skirts to stop herself.

Kahlan's excitement brought a smile to her face as she brushed a hand through her daughter's long hair. "Did he? Well, that was very kind of him."

"The brown one licked Jeremy's hand," Kahlan added with a look to her brother, who was now holding his hand up as if presenting evidence to her words.

Inspecting her son's small hand, she chuckled. "That's wonderful, sweetheart. I'm glad you had fun with your grandfather."

"My goodness," Anne said in shock. "You don't mean to say this is that little baby girl you used to carry about everywhere?"

Turning back to the older couple, she nodded. "She is. This is Kahlan and this," she said, laying a hand to her son's dark head. "Is Jeremy, my son."

Gregory's eyes widened as they danced over Jeremy. "You have a son as well?"

With a proud smile, she nodded again. "I do."

"And what a handsome young lad he is," Anne said before she touched Kahlan's hair affectionately. "And you, young lady, have grown quite a bit since we last saw you."

"I have?" Kahlan asked, always curious.

"Oh yes," Anne answered with a laugh. "Why I believe the last time I properly saw you was when your mother and father brought you to visit me."

Her entire body went rigid at the mention of Ichabod, even if it wasn't a direct mention as Kahlan took to frowning up at her old friend. "My father brought me to visit you?"

Clearing her throat, she moved to speak, but Anne beat her to it. "Oh, he simply adored you. He said you were the most beautiful little girl Sleepy Hollow had ever produced and I was very quick to agree."

Kahlan's green eyes stared up in slight amazement. "My father thought I was beautiful? He's never said that before and he never takes me anywhere."

Anne met her eyes curiously to which she dropped hers, a certain form of panic and shame taking her over. "Mrs. Bartley held you when were you were a baby, Kahlan. I brought you to visit her shortly after you were born."

"You know you don't have to accompany me," she said suddenly, adjusting Kahlan in her arms. "I can tell them you were busy."

Ichabod remained silent at her side as they walked up the road. Silence. That was all she really seemed to get from him lately; uncomfortable silence and withering glares.

"I'd actually prefer it if you didn't," she said after another few steps.

He kept his eyes straight ahead, something that irritated her beyond all else. It was childish and immature of him; two qualities she abhorred.

"These people mean a great deal to me," she continued, voice teetering on loss of control. "You know that."

"I am aware," he muttered, still not looking at her as he walked, hands clasped together behind his back as though they were simply having a pleasant stroll through town.

Clenching her jaw, she stopped and waited for him to look at her. When he finally, and obviously reluctantly, did, she fixed her eyes on his. "Please, go home," she whispered, defeat seeping into her.

For a moment, he stared at her without response before nodding his head and gazing off into the trees. Unsure what this meant, she waited. Eyes remaining fixed on him, she observed that he looked as if he were fighting some sort of internal battle as he sucked in a couple of deep breaths while his fingers flexed at his sides. At last, he turned back to her and took a step forward. "Give her to me."

With a frown, she shook her head and answered, "No."

"Katrina," he breathed in clear frustration. "You are going to give Kahlan to me. We are going to go visit the Bartley's. Then, we are going to return home." He took another step forward, a rare moment, at least for the last few weeks, of love shining in his eyes. "I understand that you care for these people a great deal. For an hour, I think the two of us can focus on our daughter and pretend to be happily married, don't you?"

She wasn't sure if she wanted to hug him or slap him, but she was sure of one thing. "I don't have to pretend to love you, Ichabod."

With that, she handed Kahlan to him and continued on up the road.

Upon knocking on the Bartley's door, she heard Ichabod take a deep breath and release it before the door opened. "Oh, Katrina," Anne exclaimed when her eyes fell on her. "You've come."

Smiling, she nodded. "I promised, I would."

Anne excitedly gestured them in before turning to shout into another room. "Gregory, Ichabod and Katrina are here!"

When Anne had led them into the sitting room, Ichabod shifted Kahlan in his arms as he sat. Taking a seat next to him, she reached over and straightened Kahlan's dress, which had twisted all around her.

"Now, let me see that baby," Anne said excitedly as she lifted Kahlan from Ichabod's arms. "Oh, my sweet Lord. She's simply beautiful."

"It's all her mother," Ichabod said with a chuckle and, to her complete shock, taking her hand in his. It seemed he was going to play his role as happily married to her for all it was worth. "I'm quite worried over it actually as I'll no doubt be turning suitors away left and right."

Anne nodded knowingly. "You're glowing with pride, Ichabod."

She smiled as she watched him nod and couldn't stop herself from stroking her thumb over his hand. "Ichabod's a rare man to be so overjoyed with a daughter. Most men would be disappointed."

His eyes met hers with a softness she was no longer accustomed to before Gregory entered with a clap. "I hear the latest beauty to grace Sleepy Hollow is in my home."

Anne turned to present Kahlan to her husband. "Oh, she is, Gregory, just look at her."

"Well, it seems for once the rumors were true," he said with a wink at her. "She's lovely, Katrina."

"Thank you," she whispered appreciatively.

Anne shook her head. "It's no wonder. Was there ever any doubt that these two would produce such a beautiful baby?" Her old friend looked up at her. "And so calm. How on earth did you come to be so blessed, Katrina?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she laughed. "I promise she has her moments." She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to her husband. "Ichabod spoils her by holding her all the time."

He scoffed next to her. "And the moment I set her down, her mother picks her up."

With a knowing chuckle, Gregory gestured between them. "Then, I suppose you'll just have to get started on another one so you'll both have one to hold."

At Ichabod's uncomfortable shift, she answered softly, "Perhaps."

"Mama?" Jeremy whispered as he tugged at her dress, pulling her gaze to him.

"What is it, love?"

He cast a shy look to Gregory and Anne before muttering, "I'm hungry."

Gregory chuckled as he laid a hand to his wife's back. "Come darling, let us allow this strapping young lad go fill his belly."

Anne nodded and touched her arm. "Do come visit us, Katrina. It's been far too long since we've last had a proper conversation."

"I promise, I will," she said, thankful for her son's interruption to the sticky situation she had found herself in.

As Gregory began leading his wife away, her old friend called over her shoulder, "And bring those children! I'll fix them a proper meal."

They were barely departed from them when Jeremy once more began tugging at her as her father cleared his throat. "I believe he's getting rather antsy, Katrina. We had best get him something to eat."

With a smile at her son, she held out her hand to him. "And what would you like for your meal today, Jeremy?"

He opened his mouth, but Kahlan spoke first. "Mama, what did that lady mean about father?"

Eyes on her daughter, she took in her curious green eyes and sighed before kneeling to Jeremy's level. "Why don't you and your grandfather seek us out a place to sit at the diner while I speak with your sister?"

"But I want you, mama," he answered softly, his blue eyes staring up at her in a way that he was well aware usually got him his way.

"I know," she whispered. "But I'm right behind you, I promise."

It took a moment, but her son finally gave a defeated nod.

"Good," she said with a bright smile. "Now, give me a kiss and go save me a seat right next to my favorite little man."

He grinned as she tapped his nose and leaned up to kiss her cheek. "I will, mama."

"Come now, Jeremy," her father called. "Let us leave these beautiful ladies to their talk. I need to save your mother a seat next to me anyway."

Jeremy gave a startled look. "You're not her favorite. I am!"

"Is that so?" her father asked with a chuckle.

As her father and Jeremy started up the street to the diner, she turned to Kahlan, who was nudging a rock in the dirt with her foot. "Father's never told me I was beautiful," she said softly. "He hates me."

Sucking in a deep breath, she reached for Kahlan's hand and pulled her closer before lifting her chin so she could meet her eyes. "Kahlan-"

"He said so, mama," Kahlan pressed tearfully. "I heard him talking to grandmother von Brunt. Why does he hate me so much? I always try to be kind to him and do what he says. I listen to him more than Jeremy does. Is it because I'm a girl?"

Her own tears making a fast approach, Katrina pulled her daughter into a hug. "No, my love," she whispered into her daughter's soft, dark hair. "None of this is your fault."

Kahlan's small fingers clutched at the back of her dress as she choked on a sob. "Then, why? Why doesn't he love me?"

Pulling back just enough to catch her daughter's tear filled eyes, she said, "You are absolutely wonderful, my sweet, sweet girl." Fingers pushing Kahlan's hair behind her ear, she smiled. "I remember the first time your father held you. It was just after you were born and," she laughed lightly. "He wept tears of joy at seeing his beautiful little girl."

Kahlan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand, mama."

With a deep breath, she promised, "One day, you will. One day, all will be clear. I swear to you, my daughter." Wiping at Kahlan's tears, she pushed the brightest smile she could muster onto her face. "Now, why don't we go see how your grandfather and Jeremy did?"

Kahlan laughed. "They're probably still arguing over who your favorite is."

Chuckling, she nodded and stood before taking her daughter's hand. "I bet you're right."