"Ichabod..."

Her fingers were currently digging into his back as she held him tightly to her, her breathing erratic as her chest heaved against him. It was unreal how she had him so completely lost in her that he was unsure he would ever be able to leave her embrace. He knew he certainly never wanted to do such a thing. The feelings coursing through him were like that of every dream he'd ever had. Trailing his kisses back to her mouth, he smiled at her soft gasp of his name. It was fairly apparent he wasn't the only one lost in feeling. "Yes, my love?"

"Don't forget."

It'd been three days since their whirlwind of a wedding and tonight was the first time they'd been able to find a moment alone. The separation he'd been forced to endure without touching her had nearly driven him mad. By the time he'd reached her in the woods where they'd agreed to meet as soon as the sun had disappeared from the evening sky, he'd been more than ready to consummate their vows. The moment he had reached her, they'd become a tangle of arms, legs, and seeking mouths. Their lengthy separation over the past year had been much too long for his liking and it was something he had been fully ready to end.

"I won't," he whispered, his mouth sliding along her jaw to find that spot just behind her ear that drove her mad. There was little he loved more in these moments than having her come completely undone in his arms.

Her warning was in reference to their agreement to avoid accidentally creating another child. In the past, they'd never really taken precaution, but now more than ever they had to be extra aware. If she were to fall with child again, there'd be nothing to stop suspicion from falling on the two of them. That was to say nothing of Katrina's being a widow and the rumors that would fly with her actions that had led to the creation of said child, the names she'd be called and the scrutiny that would fall upon her. It was something he would not subject her to.

At his end, he collapsed against her, resting his head to her shoulder and shivering as the night air cooled their overheated bodies while he attempted to regain his breathing. When her hands began stroking along his back, he placed a kiss to her shoulder and leaned up on his elbows to grin down at her. She was so beautiful as she lie beneath him. Her hair splayed out all around her, mouth slightly open as she took in each heavy breath, green eyes shining up at him in what he could only describe as pure joy.

"I do believe you've exhausted me, Mrs. Crane."

Her mirth filled laughter brought a smile to his face.

"Have I, Mr. Crane?" she asked, her hands sliding up his back to pull him back down to her. "Well, then, I suppose we'll have to work at it some more to increase your endurance."

Her lips were a breath away when he whispered, "You're insatiable. We've been at it for quite a while now."

As she spoke, her lips brushed his. "We have much time to make up for. Years upon years of stolen time where we should have been doing just this."

Eyes softening, he brushed her hair from her face and said softly, "I know, my love."

Abruptly, she pushed at him until he found himself on his back with her leaning over him, her long hair tickling his face.

"Don't worry, my love," she whispered, pressing herself against him intimately. "I'll do all the work. Just relax and...remember to breathe."

Those words had been his undoing as she'd taken him to places he hadn't realized existed. Just before daybreak, he'd reluctantly parted from her and his lack of sleep was now pressing on him as he came to stand before Washington, doing his best to suppress the yawn that was attempting to make its way out of him.

"You wished to see me, Sir?"

"Ah yes, Captain Crane," Washington clapped as he stood from his seat. "Come. We have much to discuss."

Stepping up to the table, he followed Washington's indication of the many maps spread across the table.

"A battle in the next few days seems inevitable and I have an important mission for you."

"A mission, Sir?"

Washington nodded, a serious gaze creasing his face. "There's rumor of a man, a Hessian. He's a ruthless mercenary that has suddenly appeared to fight for the enemy and will undoubtedly be present. I want you to find this man and put an end to him."

With a frown, he asked, "How will I know him? They all look the same when they have a musket aimed at you."

Washington pulled out a drawing and handed it to him. "He'll have a scar in the shape of a bow upon his hand. I must warn you Captain Crane, he is an extremely dangerous adversary and will kill you without a second thought. It is crucial that you find and defeat him first. His terror must come to an end before it's too late." Washington placed his hand on his shoulder. "This mission is of the utmost importance. His defeat could change the tide of the war. You must find him. It is your duty, Captain."

With his assurance to the General that he would seek out this man, he readied himself to exit the tent when the General's voice called him back. "Crane."

"Sir?"

Washington shifted in slight discomfort. "Do not mention this task to Katrina."

Confusion seeped into him. "She's the coven leader. Shouldn't she be made aware? She's my protector."

"I'll inform her after your departure," Washington assured. "This mission has a high chance of resulting fatal." He gave a knowing look. "And I fear she will not allow you to leave if she's aware of the danger in this mission. It must be you to kill this man."

With a great deal of hesitation and confusion, he nodded and exited the tent.

The next day, he explained the situation to the small group of men who would be accompanying him, only giving the details that pertained to the danger in the mission and nothing more. Other than that task, he'd spent his time avoiding his wife, which he knew would only last so long. He simply could not bring himself to look her in the eyes and lie to her, even if by omission. The fact that her work had kept her busy had been a blessing in disguise, something he hadn't thought he would have previously thought as he'd wanted nothing more than to wrap himself around her forever before Washington had given his orders.

"Thomas," he called as he saw him conversing across the way. His friend turned to him in question as he reached into his coat to produce a letter. "I want you to remain here tomorrow."

"What?" Thomas exclaimed, his eyes widening. "No! I'm going with you."

"I need you to stay here. Please, Thomas. If something happens to me..." He shook his head as he stared down at the letter in his hand. "I need you to deliver this to Katrina."

"Someone else can do that," Thomas protested. "Anyone else can do that."

"Anyone else might read it. You're the only one I trust this to. Please," he whispered desperately. "She'll be completely alone and without comfort in the event of my... You're the only one I trust to inform her, Thomas. No one else will understand, or realize how deeply this will affect her."

He watched as Thomas looked to the camp of bustling men before kicking at the dirt in resignation. "Alright."

Relief washed through him as he laid a hand to his friend's shoulder. "Thank you, Thomas. You've been a saving grace in my life and a better friend than I ever could have asked for. I wish you all the best."

Thomas gave a roll of his eyes, shrugging off his hand. "Just come back, Crane. You wouldn't want to miss meeting that future lucky lady of mine."

With a chuckle, he shook his head. "Of course, my friend. Of course."

Night had fallen, finding him in the process of doing his best to acquire sleep, but it was thoroughly evading him. His mind felt too overwhelmed, too full of thoughts, scenarios and, of course, Katrina. The idea of leaving her without the true knowledge of his mission was weighing on him and, at times, it took all of his restraint to hold himself down from running to her and confessing all.

"Crane, you might want to get out here."

Curious at the tone of his friend's voice, he stepped out of his tent and found Thomas leaning against a tree with his attention clearly caught onto something across the way. Following his line of sight, he was surprised to see Alfred and the General standing at a distance with Katrina. He hadn't even been aware of Alfred's return. That, however, wasn't what caught his attention as much as what Katrina was doing. She was very obviously upset as her hands were pointing at the two dramatically, the anger in her body language evident.

"What's happening?"

"Not sure," Thomas replied as he chewed on a piece of straw. "Alfred just returned and they began conversing. Now, she's quite furious about something. I'm really glad I'm not them."

Alfred suddenly glanced at him and he knew exactly what it was they were discussing. Tomorrow's events. Heart picking up pace, he realized Katrina knew. Taking a deep breath, he watched as she turned to face him as well and then she was stalking toward him, clear anger and determination in her every step.

"You're in trouble," mumbled Thomas with a bit of a chuckle to which he threw an annoyed glare.

Upon reaching him, she grabbed his hand and jerked him to follow her, gaining quite a few surprised looks from the men standing around as she led him into the trees. Once they were far away from prying eyes, she turned and slapped him clear across his cheek.

"How could you keep that from me!?"

Shocked at her outburst and the sting of her hand, he began, "Katrina-"

"You were going to march into battle to die without even bothering to tell me!" She circled him like a cat about to pounce on its prey. "I'm your wife, now, Ichabod. You made me your wife and now you're going to just leave me?" She threw a finger at him as his eyes only went wider. "You selfish bastard. You got what you wanted from me and now you're going to leave me."

When she looked as if she were about to dissolve into tears, he stepped forward to catch her eyes, his heart unable to bear her tears. "I'm so sorry, my love," he whispered in a voice that pled for her understanding. "The General made me swear not to tell you. He thought you would prevent my leaving."

"He was right," she quickly replied, her hands sliding to his neck to hold him. "Ichabod...please don't go. You can't leave me, not now. Please."

The urge to simply take her and flee entered him, but he pushed it down. "I must. The General said I'm the only one who can defeat this man."

"Man?" she asked incredulously. "Ichabod, Washington is sending you to face Death himself, the first of the Four Horseman."

His blood ran cold. "Death?"

"Yes, and I fear it's a battle you will not return from."

Overcome with thoughts running rampant, he pulled from her and aimlessly gazed into the trees.

"Ichabod?"

Taking a deep breath, he spoke to the darkness rather than her. "I'm the Witness. This is the reason for everything that's happened since we were reunited. The reason we couldn't be together, that I couldn't be a father to our children, that I can't tell the world that I possess your heart." He swallowed down his emotion. "It's my mission to do this, my destiny."

Her hand grasped his arm as she moved in front of him, her face set with resolve. "Your destiny is not to die, Ichabod."

"Perhaps, I won't," he answered half heartedly, though not believing it himself.

"I know I'm being selfish and this is why the coven kept us apart, but..." She shook her head as she clung to him tightly. "I can't lose you, Ichabod. I won't lose you."

He placed his hands to her neck as he leaned his forehead against hers. "You must have faith, my love. I do not feel this will be the last time we see each other." With a smile, he stroked her cheek. "We're going to grow old together."

"I love you."

Fingers falling to the blue jewel around her neck, the one he'd given her so long ago when he was just a boy and she just a girl, he whispered, "I love you, too, my Katrina. Always."

"Stay with me, tonight," she plead softly.

Hesitating, he pulled back from her slightly to look into her pools of green. "But Alfred-"

"I don't care," she answered, bringing him back down to brush her lips to his. "Stay with me."

"Stay with me, Ichabod."

Though, he felt her presence, his vision was swimming in and out, preventing him from focusing on her. Everything felt as though it were on fire. "Katrina..."

"I'm here, my love," came her broken voice as she placed a kiss to his hand. "Just stay with me. Please hold on."

"We haven't much time."

Alfred. What was he doing here? There were so many things he wanted to ask, but he simply couldn't make himself do so.

"No," she pled. "Not yet."

"You must do it, now," he replied quickly. "Before it's too late. You're the only one who can. He must be preserved, Katrina."

He felt her hand on his face gently caressing him. "Ichabod, can you hear me, my love?"

"Katrina..."

It was all he could say as he felt himself fading. She was becoming too distant.

"I swear to you, I will save you." He could barely hear her. "I love you, Ichabod. Always."