Author's Note: This one you probably weren't expecting, but maybe you were. Enjoy. :)

Miracle

When Abbie walked into the cabin, she saw Crane stirring something in a pot; a black towel was on his shoulder. She hung her coat and keys up and removed her gun. She put it on safety, placed it in the lock box on the book shelf, then walked into the kitchen. Wrapping her arms around Crane, she closed her eyes and sighed. He placed his empty hand on hers.

"How was your shift, my Treasure?"

"Tragic. A sixteen-year-old shot herself in her room today. Her name was Susie."

Crane stopped stirring, cut off the stove, and turned around to look at Abbie. "What?"

Abbie let him go to sit in a chair. He took the towel off his shoulder and placed it on the counter. When he bent down in front of her, he took Abbie's hands.

Abbie sighed. "When we finally got there, we tried to calm her down, but it didn't work."

"Oh, Abbie." His hands were on her cheeks. He leaned up to kiss her forehead.

Abbie took one of his hands. She kissed his knuckles, then the inside of his palm and sat his hand in her lap. As her throat tightened, her cheeks felt damp. Her head fell onto Crane's shoulder.

"Abbie." He rubbed his free hand through her hair. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Those parents lost their child today." She sniffed, took her head off his shoulder, wiped her eyes. "Where's our baby girl?"

"She's resting in our room until lunch."

Abbie stood up. She left the kitchen and headed towards their bedroom. She opened the door, then went inside. Miracle's arms and legs were everywhere; her curly hair was all over her face. Abbie smiled; she was a wild sleeper like her. When she was close enough, she moved some of her hair out of her face. Miracle had Abbie's eyes and nose with Crane's lips and height.

"Look at her. She's a joy, isn't she? A curious little being."

"Just like her father."

Crane wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "She's more like her mother, who is beautiful and brave and exceptional."

"Thank you, Mr. Crane."

"It's simply true, Treasure."

"Come on before we wake her."

They exited the room and closed the door behind them. Crane sat on the couch with Abbie in his lap.

He moved a bit of hair from her face. "You're worried about her."

"What if she does what Susie did? I couldn't handle it if Miracle killed herself. She's our daughter, Crane. A daughter of the two Witnesses at that. We're already looked at kind of funny, especially you." She poked him in the shoulder. "I don't want any kids thinking that she's weird, especially when she's older. She'll already have enough pressure with trying to fit in. If kids know that we're her parents, that may make it worse for her, Crane. Who knows what she will think of herself then or think of us."

They had Miracle three years after they were married. They wanted to wait until they defeated the Apocalypse before they started a family. Their daughter is five years old now and in kindergarten.

"All we can do is provide her with as much love and confidence as we are able to give. If we instill that in her whilst she is young, then our Miracle will be fine. And if she ever doubts herself and her abilities, then we'll be there to remind her who she is."

"You think she'll be okay?"

"I'm positive." His lips met her forehead.

She played with the scruff on his face. She didn't say anything.

"Something else is on your mind."

"Do you have any fears about parenting Miracle?"

"Of course. I'm terrified of disowning our little love the way my father disowned me. I could never imagine doing that to my beloved. It was one of the loneliest feelings to acquire. I would despise myself immensely."

"You would never do that. That isn't you. You won't make your father's mistakes. You will be more like your mother. She was supportive of all of your decisions. You'll be the same way with our daughter."

"Thank you for your encouragement, Leftenant. What about yourself? What are your fears?"

"I don't want her to feel abandoned like how I felt with mama and my dad. What happened to my mom wasn't her fault, but I know what it's like not having your parents around when you need them. I don't want Miracle to ever feel like I don't spend enough time with her or pay enough attention to her because of what I'm going through at the moment.

"I want her to know that every decision I make is for her benefit, even if she doesn't understand. Sometimes, I didn't know why my mom did what she did, but now, I get it. She made the best choices she could with what she had. It was all to protect us. She loved me and Jenny. I want to make sure Miracle knows I love her. Always."

"You won't ever follow in the footsteps of your parents. I can assure you the time you spend with our daughter is more than enough. So much so that sometimes, she wants a bit of distance from you. However, the more, the merrier."

"She can be kind of grumpy. I wonder where she gets that from." Abbie raised her eyebrows at Crane.

"I have not the slightest clue."

"Sure you don't," she paused. "Do you really think we'll be good parents?"

"The absolute best." He leaned her forehead against hers. "I remember when I first held her. I thought, 'What a lovely human?' She is an extension of me, of us. She's a tiny little person who will grow up with her own dreams and aspirations. She will be her own person, make her own path, make me the proudest father."

Abbie smiled at Crane. She loved the way he talked about Miracle. He really loved her. He taught her about the games he played as a kid; he read to her every night about the founding fathers of America, he even sung her old songs he learned in school. When he was upset with her, he was still patient. He never raised his voice at her, but he was stern when she did something she wasn't supposed to. It made Abbie happy that Crane was the father of their child. She couldn't think of anyone else.

The first year, when she was married to Crane, he suggested the idea of children. Abbie was hesitant though. She loved kids, but having a baby, having Miracle, right away while they were still in the middle of the Apocalypse made Abbie afraid. She wouldn't want anything to happen to her. She would have regretted having Miracle at such a dangerous time if she did. When she told this to Crane, he understood. Waiting was the best option. There isn't so much worry about now as there would have been then.

"You're a great daddy to her, Crane. You make me so proud of you."

"Those words mean the world to me. It pleases me to know I have reached your expectations of a parent. You're a perfect mother to her, too. Don't ever doubt you aren't."

"Thank you." She kissed Crane on the lips.

"Do you remember when we first created our Miracle?"

"I do. You were so excited when I told you it was finally time."

"It was an exceptional moment. My favorite memory is observing the growth in your stomach. It was quite an amazing transition to witness."

"You always kissed my belly every day and told Miracle you loved her."

Crane placed his hands on her stomach. "I miss those days. Perhaps, we should have another."

"Don't push it." Abbie chuckled.

"Do you recall when we told Miss Jenny you were with child?"

Abbie chuckled again. "Yes. She was so happy for us. She's been a great auntie to Miracle. They love each other to death, but we have to watch Jenny. Leave it up to her to spoil our daughter with everything we told her not to."

"Miss Jenny is Miss Jenny."

"Definitely. The trouble they get into." Abbie shook her head.

"Like the time Miss Jenny let Miracle carry home a snake?"

"Or the time she let her eat that whole bag of cotton candy. I don't know we are going to deal with those two when they are together, but I'm glad she has Jenny. Jenny can teach her so much about the world and even train her in martial arts."

"Miss Jenny is doing a wonderful job."

As Abbie nodded her head, they were silent for a few minutes. They listened out for Miracle. She was quiet. Usually when she woke up, she would come find them or yell for them.

"She's good for us. She makes us better people."

"She does," Crane said.

Abbie switched her position in Crane's lap. She put both her legs on the side of his waist. "Perhaps we should have another. A boy."

"I would be so honored if you were to give me a son, but another girl would be just as well, too."

She kissed his neck. "We should get started."

"Indeed."

Abbie then kissed his lips. She sighed into them. They were something she needed after the Saturday shift she had at work. Spending time with Crane and Miracle gave her a good escape from her stressful job. She needed them to ease her nerves, to calm her down, to stop the madness from suffocating her. As she began to lose herself in Crane's tongue, she heard the bedroom door open. They stopped kissing and turned towards Miracle. Her hair was sticking up in all kinds of directions; her pajama shirt was crooked and her pajama pants were too long. Abbie smiled at her daughter. She was too cute with bedhead.

"Hey, baby girl. You're up from your nap?"

Miracle nodded her head while she rubbed her eyes. Abbie got off Crane; she held her arms out for her. Miracle walked towards her. Abbie picked her up, kissed her, and placed her in her and Crane's lap.

"Why are you on daddy like that?"

Abbie and Crane glanced at each other. They weren't ready for this yet.

"I was fixing his hair."

She looked at Crane. He shrugged. He'd go with it too.

"How were your dreams my Miracle?" Crane said.

"Happy." She smiled up at him.

"I'm pleased to hear it." He kissed her nose.

"Baby girl, how would you like a little brother or a little sister?"

She clapped her hands. "I be a big sister."

"Yes, you will. Are you sure you're okay with being a big sister?"

She nodded her head.

"What would you like to name him or her?" Crane said.

"Abbie and Ichabod."

They laughed.

"But then we may get confused with who is who."

"No, you won't, mama."

"We'll think about those names. You have any others?"

"Fall."

Miracle's favorite season was fall. She loved the leaves. She got that from Abbie. Abbie didn't really like that name though. She stared at Crane. He shook his head. They decided they wouldn't hurt her feelings.

"That sounds great."

"Perfect." Crane said.

"Thank you, mommy. Thank you, daddy."

"Daddy and I will get started."

"How?" She looked at Abbie, then Crane. They both stared at each other again. Abbie would have to watch what she said and did, especially if she was with Crane. She didn't want Miracle walking in on them having sex. She barely wanted her to see them kissing. They weren't ready to have the sex talk with their five-year-old yet.

"That's another story for another day." Abbie said.

"You won't tell me where babies come from?"

"When you're older, my sweet."

Abbie put Miracle on her feet and she and Crane stood up. They both took her hands as they led her to the kitchen.

"Can I ask auntie Jenny where babies come from?"

"No." Abbie and Crane both said at the same time as they fixed her a plate of spaghetti together. They definitely did not want Miracle to ask Jenny anything about where babies come from because she just might tell her.