Resting on the bed with his wife, Ichabod strokes her arm as she rests on his chest. Abbie's contractions lingered longer, coming five minutes apart. She grips Ichabod's hand as the contractions rip through her belly.
"Look at me Abigail. All will be well my love and our child will be here soon. I will not leave your side and Luke is with Ms. Jenny. Our family will be whole again, this I promise you." He kisses her forehead, her smile lying flat on her lips.
She looks over to the monitor attached to her, the clicks and the beeps reminding her the baby was indeed coming and three weeks early. The doctor walks in, his bright smile making Abbie feel better.
"You need to stop worrying Mrs. Crane. I'm not sure how but your baby is full term. I've missed a due date before but never like this. The ultrasound doesn't lie; she's grown considerably since your last appointment. I have a neonatal unit ready just in case her lungs are underdeveloped. Let me give you a quick check, alright." The doctor waits for Abbie to roll over to her back, Ichabod sliding from the bed.
As the doctor examines Abbie, Ichabod watches intently. A mixture of concern and elation cover his features as he takes Abbie's hand. He looks into her soft brown eyes, giving her a comforting smile. "I love you Abbie … with all that I am."
"I love you too Ichabod." She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Okay then, looks like you're having another contraction. You're close, you've dilated to five. If you want an epidural you'll have to get it now." Taking off his latex gloves the doctor waits for her answer.
Shaking her head she waits for the contraction to pass. "No … I can do this."
After the doctor leaves Ichabod sits back on the bed with her, Abbie's head in his lap. "Does it hurt much my love? I know this experience was taken from you when Graceson was born."
"It hurts but I've been through worse. Do you think she's okay Ichabod, do you think our little girl is normal?" Abbie lets out a sigh as he strokes her hair, his fingers gliding over her neck.
"She will be perfect; of this I have no doubts. I do feel she, like her brother, is a special child. You've already seen the mind boggling things our son can do, why would our daughter be any different?" Rubbing her back he hopes her worries are eased.
Irving walks in, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Hey there Abbie got some good news about Jenny."
Abbie sits up in the bed, Ichabod wrapping an arm around her. "Is she gonna be okay Frank?"
"She's getting better and yes she's gonna be okay Abbie. Luke is still with her, he refuses to leave her. Adaline's people took her so I'm not sure if she's still alive. The doctor said the poison in Jenny was unknown; they are all scratching their heads over there. I called in a favor and I had a friend say he's working on a hybrid species of snake that got loose and bit her. I hope they bought … for now it looks like they did." Frank pats her on her arm, nodding to Ichabod.
"Once again we are in your debt Captain Irving." Ichabod nods back, the two of them understanding the war was far from over.
"I'll be staying close, keeping an eye on you and Jenny. If you need anything let me know. Oh, the Order has placed the stone key and chalice in safekeeping and my daughter is watching Graceson outside. She's really taken a liking to him." Frank opens the door, asking Macey to bring Graceson in.
The young girl walks in, the teenager Abbie once knew now a grown woman. "Hey Macey, looks like you grew up while at college."
"Yeah, Dad wants me to stop. When Dad asked me to babysit Graceson I was more than glad to do it. I can take him home if you want." Macey's smiles at her father, her mannerisms so much like Frank.
"No, I want him to be close. Thanks Macey." Abbie bites at her bottom lip as another contraction rolls over her.
Graceson gives his mother a quick kiss before Macey takes him back out. Frank gives his debit card to his daughter, Macey kissing him on the cheek. "I'll take him to the cafeteria. Okay Graceson … how about some milk and cookies?"
As Frank leaves Ruth and David walk in, their signature white robes replaces with a white dress and white suit. "We are here to give you protection while you give birth to your child. You need not worry, no evil shall enter here."
"How can you be so certain David?" A tint of doubt laces through Ichabod's words while he studies their faces.
David and Ruth write on the walls with their fingers, a slender bottle of chrism oil in their hands. "We will bless this room then no evil can enter."
Finishing the wall behind Abbie the doctor comes back in, giving the two visitors in white an inquisitive glare. "Excuse me? What are you two doing?"
Ichabod rises from the bed, waving for the Children of Zion to leave. "They are merely blessing the room, a religious ceremony if you will."
The doctor goes about his business, telling Abbie she's almost ready to push. Frank pokes his head in the door, waving for Ichabod to come out in the hallway.
"I'm sorry to take you away from Abbie but we have a small problem. Jenny is better, way better than she should be. She wants to leave and the doctors don't want her to. Honestly I think they are frightened of her, she's yelling some pretty colorful things." Ichabod ponders the new predicament, torn between his wife and his sister in law.
"Stay here with Abbie, I'll go to Jennifer." Taking wide strides, Ichabod makes it to Jenny's room quickly.
Jenny gives him a tight hug as he walks in, her arms almost crushing his ribs. "Take me to Abbie; I need to be there for her."
Luke rolls his eyes, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. "This is what I've been dealing with Ichabod. She's been like this for a while now and there is no calming her down. She went from nearly dead to wildcat. I don't know what medicine they gave her but it worked."
"Ms. Jenny, I do worry for your health. Perhaps it is best you stay here for now." Ichabod holds his breath as she squeezes him again.
"Nope … I'm all better. Now get your tall skinny ass down that hallway and to my sister. I'm not missing my niece being born." Releasing him from her hold, she winks at him.
Abbie is holding on to the side of the bed when Ichabod, Jenny and Luke walk in. The doctor tells her to push but she shakes her head. "No … I'm not ready."
Rushing to his wife Ichabod takes her hand. "Push Abigail, you must. It is time my dear and our daughter is ready to meet us."
The next few moments go by in slow motion as their daughter makes her way into the world. A head covered in dark brown hair emerges, causing Jenny to smile. "Guys, she's got a lot of hair."
"Jenny … stop … looking down there." Abbie pushes again, using Ichabod's hand to bear down.
With one last push their daughter lets out her first cry, the sound like sweet music to Abbie and Ichabod.
The nurse cleans her up, wrapping her in a blanket. Tears stream down Abbie's face as she rubs her finger against her daughter's cheek. "Hello there baby girl. This is your Daddy."
Holding her up Ichabod takes her, kissing her head softly. "You are truly a miracle my sweet child and I shall love you till the sun shines no more."
Luke and Jenny slip out to get Graceson, Jenny wiping her tears as they leave. Graceson is playing with Macey when he looks up to see his Aunt Jenny. "Luke … Jenny … can I see Mommy now?"
"Graceson, Aunt Jenny needs to talk to you. Remember how Mommy told you that you are going to be a big brother; well your little sister is here. Would you like to go meet her?" His bright blue eyes look up to Luke then back to Jenny.
"Okay." Jenny can tell he's not sure about any of this but he really wanted his mom and dad.
Walking back in the room Abbie waves for Jenny to bring Graceson to her. Ichabod picks him up, showing him his little sister. "What her name Daddy?"
Abbie reaches up taking his small hand. "What do you think it should be?"
He twists his head from one side to the other, twitching his mouth. "Her name is baby."
Ichabod chuckles at him, grinning back at his wife. "She needs a proper name Graceson, like yours."
The small boy furrows his eyebrows as if in deep thought. Abbie gives him a loving smile, patting the bed beside her. Ichabod sits him down as Graceson curls into his mother's side. "Mommy thought about his for a long while and I think Augustine is a good name. I had a man that was very much like a father to me and his name was August Corbin. She's an Augustine and you're a Graceson."
"Augustine … okay Mommy. I like Jenny … I call her Jenny." His doting aunt picks him up, tickling him.
Ichabod whispers to Abbie as they both start smiling. "Graceson is correct Ms. Jennifer; she is a Jenny, Augustine Jennifer Crane to be exact."
Later that evening while Abbie lay resting and Jenny and Luke take Graceson for something to eat, Ichabod sits by the window with his new daughter in his arms. "I make this solemn vow to you Augustine, to be the best father I can, to always give you love and never fail to be understanding. When I met your mother I did not know this is where life would take me but looking at you now I know without a shred of doubt this is where I have always belonged. You, my sweet girl and your brother are my hearts joy. I adore you both and love your mother with such veracity I think I may perish without her. A great war is coming, one I will not let touch you or your brother. Evil will not win because you are here, a true angel of God's celestial choir."
Augustine makes a whimpering sound as she stirs in her father's arms. He places a light kiss on her cheek, cradling him to her. Abbie wakes, holding her hand out to him. Laying the baby in her arms, he sits on the side of the bed holding both of his girls. Graceson runs in the room, holding a stuffed toy graffiti.
Luke holds Jenny in his arms, kissing the exposed skin of her shoulder. "I thought for sure I had lost you today. I made the doctor stitch my head while I held your hand. I'm not sure how or why you recovered so quickly but thank God you did. Marry me Jenny."
She turns to him, her eyebrows creased together. "I already said yes Luke and I'm wearing your ring."
"No Jennifer … I mean soon. When Abbie is out of the hospital lets go to City Hall and get married. You've always said you're not the white lace and flowers kind of girl so why not." He looks deep into her eyes as she grins back at him.
"Your own Morales." They kiss deeply as Graceson wrinkles his nose. "Hurry up and get out of her Abbie … I have a wedding to go to." Jenny holds Luke's hands to her stomach as he pulls her closer to him.