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 13: Ichabod's Heart

Ichabod's dark brown eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in the world around him. His memory was fuzzy, he could barely recall anything. He moaned slightly, turning his head to the side, his eyes half lidded with sleep. It was early morning, he could tell by the bright yellowish orange sunlight streaking in through the window and the faint bird songs he heard from outside.

He tried to sit up, but his midsection was weak and he ended up collapsing back on the soft mattress with a groan. Placing his hand on top of his stomach, he was startled by how flat and sore it felt. He gasped as realization struck him. The baby!

Just then, Masbath entered with a tray of food in his hands.

"Masbath!" he said frantically. "What happened? Where is my baby?"

"The baby's just fine, sir," he informed him calmly. "It's a girl. A very pretty one, too, if I might say."

Tears of joy began to sting the constable's brown orbs. "A girl? I... I have a daughter?" Hot tears began to run down his pale cheeks as he heard the words with his own ears. "Where is she? I want to hold her."

Masbath placed the tray of food down on a nearby desk before helping his master into a sitting position. He then went over to a near by crib that was decorated with little pink ribbons. It looked old and was likely Katrina's. Masbath lifted the baby out and gently placed her in Ichabod's waiting arms.

"She's so beautiful," Ichabod sobbed caressing her cubby cheek with his pale, graceful fingers. He smiled as she seemed to cuddle closer to him. He couldn't believe that he had been carrying this inside of him for nine months. He realized now just how much this child meant to him. It wasn't just a baby; it was his will to live, his reason for waking every morning. It was almost as if he were holding his heart in his arms.

My heart, he thought happily as the child rubbed her eyes with the back of her little fist. He was so glad that he had decided to keep this child.

He looked up suddenly as a thought occurred to him. "Where is Viktor?" he asked. Masbath's blank stare reminded him that he didn't know who he was talking about. "The Horseman. Where is he?"

"He left sir."

Ichabod's heart sank at the boy's words. "He left?"

"Yes sir," Masbath said, the crushed look on the older man's face making him feel a bit uneasy. "But he did say that he would be back this evening."

Ichabod looked away sadly. Because of his foolish behavior, Viktor almost missed their child being born. He felt horrible about running away from the Hessian, but he simply couldn't take being locked up like that. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to be near Viktor, but he didn't want to be trapped inside of the Tree of the Dead again.

"Leave me for a moment, Masbath," he told his young servant in a hushed tone. "I need to be alone."

The boy nodded and complied, casting one last worried glance at the older man before leaving the room.

Ichabod sat there, cradling his baby close to his chest. He bent slightly and kissed the top of her soft hair, nuzzling it lovingly and breathing in her wonderful scent. "Oh My Heart," he murmured to her lovingly, "I promise that I shall never, ever hurt you. I love you so much it hurts me." A tear escaped his eye and fell on to the top of the newborn's head. The babe scrunched up her face in what appeared to be a frown and gurgled in displeasure. Hearing this, Ichabod ran his fingers lovingly up and down her back. "Shh," he soothed. "Please do not cry My Heart. I love you, do not cry."

Ichabod wouldn't let anyone part him with his baby for the rest of the day. Whenever a servant came into the room offering to change her or feed her, Ichabod would protest and hold the baby tighter. Katrina had given him a tea that helped him to gain most of his strength back, allowing him to be able to stand long enough to relieve himself and change the baby.

Still, for the rest of the day, Ichabod remain in bed, child in arms, waiting for the Hessian. He came at ten, the sun having already set and most of the people in the Hollow at home; it was much easier for the dead man to sneak in.

When Ichabod saw Viktor come into the room, he felt his heart lighten, a small smile gracing his lips. The Horseman was at his side right away. He cupped the young man's chin in one gloved hand, titling his head up and placing a gentle kiss on his lips.

Ichabod felt his eyes instantly begin to water, his smile wavered and he bowed his head in shame. "Viktor," he sobbed. "I am so sorry." Tears began to pour down his face as his voice became thick with emotion.

Cupping the crying mortal's face in his hand, Viktor whipped a stray tear from his cheek with his thumb. "Do not cry mein geliebter," he said softly. "There is nothing to be sorry for."

"Yes! Yes there is!" he sobbed guilt and shame taking over him. "You almost missed our baby being born! If I had not been so selfish-"

"You are not the selfish one, Ichabod," he interrupted. "I am. I had no right to keep you locked up in that tree. I was simply afraid that you would run away from me, and yet I ended up pushing you away instead."

Ichabod sighed, leaning into the Hessian's warm touch. "We both mad mistakes I suppose," he lamented, "but I do love you and I want to be near you, but I do not wish to be trapped inside like that anymore."

The Hessian nodded, kneeling down beside the bed. He gently stroked the top of the baby's soft hair, managing to still hold onto Ichabod's pale cheek. "What can we do mein geliebter?"

"Perhaps you could come back to the city with me?" Ichabod suggested. "I don't think that Masbath would mind too much. Once he gets used to you..."

The Hessian chuckled and shook his head slowly at the young man's words, causing him to pause and raise a questioning eyebrow at the dead man. "I am afraid that will not work," he said. Ichabod gave him a puzzled look, and the Hessian sighed and continued. "There is no place for a dead man in the world of the living. One look at me and people will flea in terror."

"Oh." Ichabod's shoulders slumped slightly and he looked down at the sleeping newborn in his arms sadly.

Viktor frowned slightly at the look on the young mortal's face. "Could you not try to come back to the Tree with me?" he suggested. "I promise that I will not lock you in again."

Ichabod shook his head slowly. "No, it... it won't work," he told him quietly. "There's simply not enough room for three people in there."

"We do not need much room, mein geliebter. You and I can share the bed and the baby can sleep in the crib in the corner."

"That may be fine for now, but not when the baby gets older."

The Hessian raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"

"Viktor," he began, a blush creeping on to his face. "Don't make me say it out loud." When the other man did not seem to get the hint Ichabod sighed and his blush deepened. "W-when the baby gets older... and w-we... we are... intimate. T-there are no other rooms so..."

"Oh," Viktor said, feeling foolish for not understanding right away. "I see now." They were both quite for a while, considering their options. There seemed to be none left and Viktor feared that this just might be the end of the best thing he ever had.

"I could stay here, in Sleepy Hollow," Ichabod suggested.

The Hessian quirked an eyebrow at him. "I thought that you did not like it here?"

Ichabod shrugged. "It won't be too bad. It is a quite town, safer then the city I suppose. It will be a good place to raise our baby, and I will be near you." He looked up at the dead man, uncertain. "What do you think?"

Viktor smiled, relieved that they would not have to separate. He kissed him lightly on the lips. "That is a good idea," he said. He looked down at their daughter sleeping soundly in Ichabod's arms. "What should we name her?" he asked thoughtfully.

Ichabod thought for a moment and then smiled. "Meriwether," he said. "After my mother."