The earthy smell of the soil under her hands was a delight to her senses as she shoveled it around, intent on actually accomplishing her goal of planting her flowers today. With the noontime sun relentlessly beating down on her, she wiped the back of her hand over her brow and dove back into the soil.

A garden of flowers was just the right amount of care her home needed at this time and she fully intended to see it completed. Her greatest hope was that the beauty and sweetness the bright spot would bring when the time came for the season of blossoming would be more a reflection of what was happening within the walls of her home than without. It would be a refreshing reprieve from all of the darkness that seemed to constantly plague the Crane household.

The past week had been a growing experience for every member of her small family, beginning with Jeremy's bed wetting; a consistent issue that hadn't been ceasing. Since she'd spoken with Ichabod, she'd felt as though she'd found renewed strength; including the strength to help her son which she had been in desperate need of having.

Never wishing to cause any embarrassment to Jeremy, she'd taken to having supper earlier in the evening as to prevent too much drink before bed for him. She also took to sharing nightly stories while she laid in bed with him; wanting him to have as many wonderful thoughts in his mind before he fell asleep as possible. Her sweet boy's thoughts and dreams had been so terrifying to him lately and she wanted nothing more than to provide him with some form of security when his eyes finally closed at night. So, having returned both children to their own beds, which they'd chosen earlier in the week, she began in Jeremy's room where she laid with him until he fell asleep.

Then, once she was sure he was down for the night, she ventured to Kahlan, who never failed to still be waiting for her appearance. Her beautiful little girl clung to her nightly, almost demanding the contact with her to fall asleep. She truly cherished those moments. It allowed them the rare time to themselves to talk about whatever was on Kahlan's mind, whether it be her deep seated fears or something as simple as her frustrations with Jeremy always following her around. It was those light moments with her daughter that gave her the peace of mind she needed concerning Kahlan's future well being; especially when she saw that Kahlan still had her sense of humor and bright personality.

Lastly, she'd sleepily make her way to her love, who seemed to finally be content with her presence in his bed. They'd seek refuge in each other's arms, bearing their souls to one another, before his eyes would drift shut, leaving her to observe him for as long as she dared. Then, when she'd had her fill of soaking in his presence, she'd return to her own room for the rest of the night.

In truth, it was physically and mentally draining on her to be the last one in bed and the first one up the next morning, but she found that, despite her weary body, her soul had become much lighter. Everything seemed to be falling into place and she hoped their entwined lives continued to daily blossom into whatever future laid ahead of them.

A giggle from the horse pen drew her eyes up from the fresh soil to the sight of Kahlan atop the white mare Ichabod was leading around the fence while Jeremy trailed beside him. The three of them had been out with the horses since breakfast and showed no signs of parting from their enjoyment, even with lunch quickly approaching.

Sitting back on her heels, she watched them with a gentle smile as they took such happiness in their activity. Never before had she seen two children enjoy horses more than Kahlan and Jeremy and it seemed that their love had trickled into Ichabod.

It had become a daily habit over the last week for the three of them to go out to the barn and tend to the horses. Ichabod had determined, after much encouragement from her, to find a way to bond with their children without too much pressure or fear of danger. It saddened her that her love still seemed to be so hesitant to be alone with Kahlan and Jeremy for too long, but, with each new day, he seemed to become more comfortable with the idea. The horses greatly helped that comfort as well. They seemed to soothe Ichabod's spirit as much as the children. Perhaps, it was the control he had of the situation, or maybe the unconditional love being given to him. Whatever it was, she was thankful for it.

For their part, Kahlan and Jeremy basked in the attention of their father. Such acknowledgement had been absent from their lives until this point and now that they were receiving it, they seemed brighter than ever. To see them seeking out his advice and approval was so heartwarming that at times she had to simply sit back and allow it to wash over her; the reality of it.

"Katrina."

Quickly turning to see her father standing a few feet behind her, she brought a hand to her heart and released a shaky breath.

"Father," she breathed as she pushed herself up while dusting off her filthy hands.

When the two were standing face to face, she found nervousness suddenly overcoming her. While she had spoken to a handful of people regarding Abraham's death and Ichabod's return, her father had been very obviously absent since the incidents; something that had been plaguing her with worry considering he now knew just who she was.

She imagined her mind hadn't been the only one scrambling for answers to the questions that never seemed to cease presenting themselves. At least, she had help with her concerns due to Ichabod, but her father... he had no one to speak with of the new information he'd come into possession of recently. She couldn't fathom what he must have been thinking all this time.

"I was wondering when you would stop by," she said, hoping to give him some direction for a beginning to this conversation.

His feet shifted as he looked at everything but her; his faced filled with thin lines which were beginning to give way to his age. "I didn't want to intrude. I'm sure you and your family have needed some time to adjust."

The distance she saw in his eyes had a knot forming in her throat. "You're my family, too."

Still not looking at her, he slipped his hands into his pockets and nodded, his eyes focused on the ground. "Am I, Katrina?"

Heart now beating wildly in her chest, she whispered, "Of course, you are."

He turned to look up at the house her mother's family had built. "So many things make sense now and yet... I still feel lost for answers."

A sense of urgency for him to understand, not only her but her mother, filled her as she said, "She wasn't in a position to tell you."

When he didn't turn or acknowledge her words, she went on, "Our coven, it... Secrecy is something we hold dear. Our ability to be of help to the world hinges on our being invisible; on the freedom we have to move about without objection from those who might not ever understand the gifts we possess."

"Gifts?" he asked with a sigh. "Is that what you call it?"

She took a moment to consider her words. He didn't seem angry, but there was a significant measure of betrayal and sadness in his voice.

"You're a carpenter. You have a gift with your hands. You create beauty with what you are given from the gifts you possess." She paused before adding softly, "I am a witch and I also have a gift; a gift that allows me to heal the sick; to stop the evils in the world. I make things beautiful, too, father."

"And your mother? What was Elizabeth's excuse?"

Her heart ached for him.

"We have our own laws, our own forms of punishment, and no one is exempt from them. If she would have told you, the way I'm sure she wanted to, then the both of you might have faced deadly consequences. The coven isn't tolerant of outsider knowledge."

"Ichabod knows," he mused aloud without much emotion.

"I didn't tell Ichabod the truth," she answered in a steadfast tone. "He discovered it on his own the day before Kahlan was born."

"And what does your coven have to say about that?" he asked, his gaze still fixed on the old house. "Have there been deadly consequences?"

"They never had a chance to say anything as Abraham witnessed my power at the same moment Ichabod did. He formed his own punishments for us; punishments far more severe than anything the coven could have brought against us."

Her father flinched under her answer, but she never stopped speaking.

"Since Ichabod's return, Alfred has managed to calm their concerns due to our circumstances. With the whole town nearly becoming privy to witchcraft among some of its more prominent members, he was able to make them see sense in not stirring any more dangerous waters for a while. All eyes are going to be on Ichabod for a long time to come and the coven has seen fit not to bring any more troubles to his doorstep. It's also helped that he's known the truth for seven years without anyone learning of our existence from him."

"And you?" he asked as he turned to her, his eyes filled with so much pain she had to take a step back. "How could you keep something like that from him? How could you hold your tongue when I spoke of your mother with you that night so long ago?"

"Father, I-" she shook her head as tears began to fill her eyes.

"You knew I loved her," he went on with a wavering voice. "You knew what peace it would have brought me to know why she was so distant; why she all but took you from me."

Swallowing against the knot in her throat, she whispered, "Do you not understand the fear? I didn't tell Ichabod; the man I loved and trusted above all others. Why would I tell a man I barely knew and had only just learned might actually love me as a father should?"

At those words, his eyes softened ever so slightly. "Katrina, I know I've not always been the father I should have to you, but... did you truly fear me so greatly that you considered I might bring you to harm?"

"Yes," she softly whispered, little to no hesitation in her voice. "I feared you more than I feared anyone. I was a little girl in need of love who went without it for over twenty years. That wasn't going to disappear because of one conversation. My fear of rejection still plagues me daily. It's something I will always struggle with and have to force myself not to succumb under the pressure of every day."

Silence fell between them as the sounds of Kahlan still giggling in the distance became the only thing of import.

"Do you hear that?" she asked as she pointed toward her family. "That is a sound that was so foreign to me as a small child. Do you not recall how little I laughed as a girl? I was always too terrified to draw attention to myself, to the burden I carried, to take such pleasures from life."

A heavy breath fell from her as she took a step toward her father, who was standing so still she thought he may have ceased breathing. "The past is said and done, father. I do my best not to allow past mistakes to plague me. Can you do the same? Can we put all of the awful things that have happened behind us and attempt to have some measure of a future in each other's lives?"

"Oh, Katrina," he whispered as he ran a hand through his graying hair. "There is no future of mine where you and your children are not included. I'm simply so..."

"Overwhelmed?" she offered with a small smile.

A chuckle escaped him as a genuine expression of happiness came to his face. "Indeed."

Nodding her understanding, she slipped an arm through his and faced the pen where her family was still enjoying their day. "I'm sure Ichabod would love to speak with you about the feeling. I know he struggled with my secret as well. I'm still not sure he completely understands."

"It's strange to see him after all this time," her father said while pulling her close. "It's as though I'm looking at a ghost."

"He struggles," she whispered, her eyes on her love. "He's gone through so much."

Her father laid his free hand over hers. "You both have."

Gaze falling to her boots, she shook her head. "I only hope that once it's all over, once we've managed to catch our breath, we'll be able to appreciate the beauty in life rather than the horror."

"I think you already have," her father said as he tilted his head forward. "Just look at them."

Eyes lifting to her family, she found all three of them grinning from ear to ear, the sounds of their laughter floating through the air. Then, Ichabod paused and glanced back at her; the brightness in his eyes causing her breath to hitch.

"I'd say you have little to worry over, Katrina."

Returning her love's smile, she watched as he resumed his antics with their children.

"Maybe so."


Epilogue next.