Disclaimer: I do not own Sleepy Hollow. The film Sleepy Hollow was made by Tim Burton who adapted it from Washington Irving's short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Chapter 10: The Mistakes We Make

Ichabod sighed looking out the window and watching the gently falling snow. He sat in a chair next to the window in the attic guest room of the Van Tassel home. His hand rested on top of his round stomach sadly as he thought about the mistake he now realized that he had made. He should never have left Viktor like that. He missed him terribly. He had tried to explain to Katrina that the Hessian had never harmed him, but she would not believe him. She merely thought that the Hessian had put some sort of spell on him and was controlling his mind, and to make matters worse, she had had the new priest come by and bless the house, so now Viktor couldn't get in.

Even worse was the fact that she wouldn't let Ichabod leave his room. She had placed him on bed rest and forced him to stay locked in his room. He sighed, she was worse then Viktor!

He heard a soft knock on the door and suspected that it was Masbath come to check on him. The boy was well meaning, but after a while pampering got old, especially when it came from someone younger then you.

"Come in," he called.

Katrina came in then, with Masbath following close behind her carrying a tray of food. She frowned when she saw Ichabod sitting by the window.

"Ichabod," she chided. "What are you doing out of bed? You shouldn't be moving around in your condition!" She walked over to him and helped him to stand.

He grunted, struggling to his feet. "Katrina," he grunted in slight annoyance. "It isn't as though I was doing any heavy lifting or the like!" He let out a long, slow breath, rubbing his back and placing a supportive hand on his hip.

"Are you alright, Ichabod?" Katrina asked her voice full of concern. "Does your back hurt?"

Ichabod shook his head slightly. "No, no," he said as he waddled over to the bed. He clasped on the bed, causing the frame to squeak slightly. Katrina came over and tucked him in, rearranging his pillows so that he could sit up comfortably.

"Here you are, sir," Masbath said as he came over and placed the tray in Ichabod's lap. A steaming bowl of beef stew and a warm cup of tea lay before him.

Ichabod breathed in the sent happily, a smile gracing his pale face. "Thank you Masbath," he said, taking the warm bowl in his hand.

Katrina turned to Masbath and smiled. "Masbath," she said softly, "could you give Ichabod and I a moment of privacy."

Masbath nodded before quickly turning to leave the room. Katrina then pulled the chair next to Ichabod's bed and took a shaky breath.

Ichabod raised his eyebrows at her, concern crossing his face. "Katrina," he began, putting down the bowl of stew, "is something the matter?"

"Yes," she said nervously. "There is something I have been meaning to say to you."

Ichabod grabbed the nervous young girl's hands and held them in his. "What is it Katrina?" he urged gently. "Tell me."

Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes and she bowed her head in shame. "I wanted to say," she began, "that... I'm sorry. I am so very sorry Ichabod!"

He raised an eyebrow at her in startled confusion. "Sorry?" he repeated. "What ever for?"

"For the way I acted. I never should have yelled at you, or sent you away! It was wrong of me and I realize that now. It was just... I was so... so jealous!"

"Jealous?" Ichabod practically squeaked the word.

"Yes, jealous," she continued, the tears falling freely now. "I wanted to have your children; I wanted your first babe to be with me. Now with him!" She paused as she took in a few shaky breaths, trying to calm herself. "I know now that I should never have accused you of all those awful things, but I am going to do my best to make it up to you." She gave his fingers a gentle squeeze as she said this. "I promise you, I will love this child as if it were my own. I swear to you, Ichabod, I shall be the best mother I can."

Ichabod sighed, looking down at their linked hands sadly. He rubbed the tops of her knuckles with his thumb softly. He couldn't do this; he couldn't let her think that they had a future together. "I am sorry Katrina," he said softly, "but I love the Hessian dearly and since this is his baby as well as mine, I think that it is only right that I raise the child with him."

He looked at her then, and saw that her eyes were red with tears and wide as she stared at him puzzled. Her cheeks were tear stained and her small pink mouth hung open slightly in shock. "You must be joking," she gasped. "How could you love that man? He's a monster!"

He shook his head slowly at her. "You simply do not understand," he said softly. "You do not know him the way I do. He was so kind and loving to me before... I realize now that I was wrong to leave him and can only pray that he will forgive me."

She frowned at him then. "He really did turn you against me, didn't he?"

"No!" he said quickly. "I assure you that my feelings for him came naturally."

"But you cannot raise a baby with just two men! A child needs a mother!"

Ichabod felt his eyes begin to water as he let go of her small white hands. "I know," he said sadly. "I know that. I am not a woman and I am no mother, I never will be, but I love my baby. There may be no real word for what I am, but I can only try my best. All I can do is love it with all my heart."

Katrina's frown deepened. It was clear that she realized that she was losing this argument. "Very well then," she said, getting up from her seat beside him. "I shall leave you to your meal." With that she began to walk away.

"Katrina!" Ichabod said, stopping her in her tracks. She turned back to look at him. "I know my words have hurt you," he said softly, "but... well I am sorry and if it means anything... I accept your apology."

She smiled at him briefly, a small twinkle in her eyes and Ichabod could tell that she had no hard feelings either. "Get some rest Ichabod," she said softly before leaving the room.

Ichabod sighed as he reached underneath his pillow and pulled out the wooden horse that Viktor had made for their child. He looked down at the wooden figure in his hand sadly as he stroked the top of his belly. "I am sorry, Viktor," he whispered softly, feeling tear drops running down his cheeks.

The Hessian looked at the small town from the edge of the woods. He sat perched on top of Daredevil, holding the reins tightly in one hand and scratching the dead horse's ear with the other. He knew that his love had returned to the Hollow, to the arms of the White Witch, but he did not understand why. Ichabod had told him that he was not comfortable in the town and that he no longer cared for the Van Tassel girl. So why did he leave him for this?

Would you prefer anything else to being with me, meine liebe? he thought sadly.

What right did he have anyway to keep a creature of light hidden away in the darkness? The boy needed the sunshine so that he could bloom properly. He would only pray that the beautiful young man would take pity on him and allow him to see their child once in a while, but he knew that it was much more then a monster like him deserved.

With a heavy sigh, he toughed on the reins and turned Daredevil around, heading back to the prison that for three wonderful months had actually felt like a home.