Doubt was a very powerful villain he'd come to be close friends with in his lifetime. It followed him everywhere he went, whispering in his ear, going on and on about all his shortcomings; as a man, son, husband, friend, and father. The list was endless.

Even now, as he watched his little girl run across the playground amongst the other children, a smile stretching her lips, he could hear the whispers taunting him. They told of his fears, his flaws, his mistakes. There was no stone the whispers didn't over turn to reveal the disgusting truths of just beneath the surface.

The gravel crunched under his shoes as he made his way toward Bella while the sun beat down on him from overhead, raging with heat and what he felt was seething judgment.

"Daddy!"

The sound of his daughter's voice, no matter his inner thoughts, could bring a smile to his face when nothing else could. As she ran toward him, her long, dark hair bouncing in its ponytail, he eased down on one knee and waited for her to reach him.

The moment she did, she jumped into his arms with a giggle.

"What are you doing here, silly?" She set her hands on his shoulders. "I thought Aunt Jenny was picking me up?"

"Really?" He looked at his watch before throwing a thumb over his shoulder. "I suppose I should go, then."

Her fingers tightened in his shirt as she narrowed her eyes. "I don't think so, mister."

Sharing in her grin, he tapped her nose with a chuckle. "You've won me over."

"Thank heavens," she said, before leaning close. "I've done good today, daddy. No accidents."

Sorrow welled in his chest. For her to ever have to whisper such a thing tore at his heart. The idea that his little girl had to walk on egg shells around something that should be so precious to her was not something he felt comfortable allowing to continue.

"You always do good, sweetheart."

A smile flickered over her lips, but as her eyes glanced over his shoulder, it faded in an instant.

He was well aware of what, or, more accurately, at who she was looking.

"Who's that, daddy?" she whispered, her voice tentative, almost afraid.

With a weary sigh, he looked behind him and found Katrina standing just outside the fence, her arms crossed just below her breasts as she nervously shifted her feet. Her red hair, catching every glint the sun had to offer, was a stark contrast to the light blue dress she wore, which touched just above her knees, giving ample view of her long legs.

For a moment, he found himself frozen. Such beauty hiding such deadly power.

"Daddy?" He turned back to Bella, who was anxiously twisting her jacket sleeves, her gold-green eyes still plastered on Katrina. "She's watching us."

"I know, Angel," he whispered as he gently pulled her gaze to his. "I did what you asked."

Bella's eyes, so like her mother's, danced over his face, a hope shining in them. "Is she my mommy?"

The words rolled off her tongue so naturally, almost as if they'd been marinating there all day, just waiting for the opportunity to be voiced.

Unable to verbally answer, he nodded his head and watched as Bella returned her gaze to Katrina, nervousness now clear on her innocent face. He could hardly imagine what it must be like to look upon your mother for the first time; someone you'd longed to know for as long as you could remember.

"But my hair is all messed up and..." Bella glanced down at her clothes. "And I'm not dressed pretty."

Amused that she would go straight to worrying after her appearance, he brushed her dark hair behind her ear and adjusted her blouse beneath her jacket.

"You look beautiful as always, Bella." He slipped his finger beneath her chin and leveled their gazes. "I love you."

Her dark lashes blinked at him as she whispered, "I love you, too, daddy."

Nodding, he glanced at her sneakers before continuing, "I know you must be confused and excited all at once." He sighed and caught her eyes again, which were once again on Katrina. "Your mother... it hasn't been possible for her to be here with you before now."

Bella's eyes shifted back to him as her brow drew tight. "Why not?"

Unsure of how to address the issue, he chose to ignore it for now.

"She simply hasn't," he whispered before quickly adding, "But she's here now and... I know she desperately wants to know you."

"She does?"

The quiet question tore his heart to shreds. How often had she doubted her mother's love?

"She loves you more than anything in the world."

His daughter looked over his shoulder again, her cheek caught between her teeth.

"I just need to know that this is what you truly want." He shifted his weight to his other leg. "Alright?"

Bella nodded as she chewed her cheek. "Is she going to come over?"

Swallowing against the thick feeling in his throat, he nodded and glanced back at Katrina.

When they'd parked, he'd asked her to wait at the car and was surprised that she'd agreed given her history of going against everything he said. However, he supposed she'd been working up her nerve as much as he head. On the drive over, she'd barely been able to keep herself still. The anticipation seeping off her had nearly been tangible.

A shadow passed over him before he felt her presence at his side; an all too alluring presence.

"Hello, Bella," Katrina whispered, her voice wavering, sounding more on the verge of tears than anything else.

For her part, Bella moved closer within his embrace, prompting him to wrap his arms around her and place a kiss to her temple, hoping to give her a little assurance that he was here for her.

Finally taking a good look at Katrina for himself, he witnessed the tears glistening in her eyes; the emotion in that sea of green all too real.

"You're so beautiful," Katrina whispered, her voice trembling. "I-I've imagined this moment for so long and, yet, I find myself unsure of what I should say."

Bella smiled, her dark hair falling into her eyes as she twisted her sleeves in her fingers. "Me, too."

As neither seemed ready to begin conversation, he once again brushed Bella's hair over her ear. At the touch, Bella cast him another hesitant glance, almost as if asking for permission to make a move, before she eased out of his embrace and lifted her hand out toward Katrina. However, when their fingers touched, Bella jerked back suddenly, her eyes wide and her breathing quickened as she returned to his arms.

His brow drew tight as he met Katrina's eyes, which were now darting between Bella and her hands in a slightly panicked manner. Accusation was on the tip of his tongue, but the sight of her clear discontent over the situation stilled his reaction.

"What happened?"

"I'm so sorry," Katrina whispered as she clenched her fingers into a fist. "It's been so long since I've been in tune with my magic."

She moved closer to him and Bella, allowing her shoulder to touch his and unintentionally cause him to tense, ready to sweep Bella away from her completely.

"I promise, it won't happen again." Katrina hesitated, her eyes flickering to him before returning to Bella, as she added, "When you were in my belly, even though I couldn't access it, our magic was connected and, just now, when we touched, it recognized each other; sort of like two friends connect after having not seen each other for a long while."

Relieved it hadn't been anything too serious, he nodded and cupped the back of Bella's head, which was pressed deep into his neck as her fingers clutched at his shirt.

"I want it to go away, daddy," she whispered against his neck as her small chest rose and fell at a quickened pace.

"I know, sweetheart," he said, as he rubbed his hands up and down her back, keeping his eyes on Katrina who looked as in need of a hug as Bella. "But your mother's here to help you control it. It won't be so scary soon."

Katrina's eyes flickered to his as she gnawed at her bottom lip. If she began to look any more nervous, he'd have to find her some medication. There was so much hesitation in her eyes; so much fear of rejection that he could practically feel it radiating off her. It was such a change from the controlled and even intimidating presence she'd attempted to maintain during their previous encounters.

After a few breaths had been sucked in, Bella finally pulled back, her eyes full of hope. "Promise?"

Quickly nodding with a smile, he tilted his head toward Katrina. "Go on."

With that motivation, Bella finally accepted Katrina's hand, her movements slow and wary, testing the touch for further occurrences beyond her control.

When nothing happened, Bella glanced back at him, prompting him to smile and encourage her with another nod.

"Are you like me?" Bella asked softly as Katrina's fingers rubbed back and forth over Bella's knuckles. "Daddy says I'm special."

A breathless laugh slipped between Katrina's lips as she nodded. "Yes, we're very much alike and very special."

Bella leaned close to Katrina and whispered, "Do you set things on fire, too?"

"I can." Katrina shifted her position, her knees now digging into the grass so she could kneel at the same height as Bella. "And I can do so many other wonderful things; things you'll be able to do one day as well."

"I don't really want to," Bella said, her gaze falling to her sneakers. "Can you make it go away?"

He sucked in a breath as he fixed his gaze on Katrina, waiting for her reaction. In his opinion, what she did could go a few ways, some in his favor and some not. With Bella personally asking for assistance in being rid of her magic, he worried Katrina might accuse him of brainwashing her. Then again, it could be what Katrina needed to hear to know that Bella was afraid and desperate for normalcy.

"Why are you crying?" Bella asked as she lifted a hand to wipe at Katrina's tear streaked cheek. "You don't have to cry, mommy."

Katrina seemed lost for words as she blinked at Bella, uncertainty lacing her features. He once again found himself struck by how out of sorts Katrina was. Everything about her was raw, right there for him to see in ways he hadn't been able to in centuries.

Knowing she needed assistance, he placed his hand to Bella's back and assured, "She's just happy to see you, sweetheart. She's been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time."

Katrina caught his eyes for a moment, a surprising amount of gratefulness being offered in her gaze, before she met Bella's curious green eyes. "Is it alright if I hug you?"

Without a word either way, Bella stepped right into Katrina and wrapped her arms around her neck, her slender limbs tangling in Katrina's long, red hair.

As Katrina encompassed Bella in an embrace, he found himself riveted by the sight of mother and daughter. They seemed to fit so well together; so naturally. Both were smiling, clearly happy to be in the other's company, and he suddenly felt doubt creep over him. Had he been wrong to keep Katrina away for so long? Could Bella have had this sort of love from the start?

"Ichabod, is everything alright?"

Springing to his feet, he felt a hot prickly sensation start to overtake him.

"Betsy."

As she came to a stop before him, she raised an eyebrow as her dark eyes darted from him to Bella and Katrina, who were still kneeling on the ground. "Is something wrong?"

"I-" He began fidgeting with his shirt collar. "This is, uhm..."

His worst nightmare.

Katrina, who was now standing, had her eyes fixed on Betsy's hand, which was gently stroking his arm. If he wasn't imagining things, he might have seen a small amount of heat flash in her gold-green orbs.

"This is my mommy, Ms. Ross." Bella took Katrina's hand, a bright smile on her face. "She came to see me."

Betsy's eyes widened as she stared at Bella, seeming to struggle with the assertion. Then, ever so slowly, her gaze worked its way to him.

For his part, he felt like he was literally sweating bullets.

"Betsy, I can explain. This is-"

"Katrina Crane," Katrina cut in, a thin smile on her face as she held her hand out to Betsy. "I'm Ichabod's wife."

Sure she'd lost her mind, he swiveled to Katrina with wide eyes. However, the way her eyes slid to his, a glint in them to match the smirk on her face, was all he needed to know she was taking a dig at him. Then again, she could just be staking a claim. What had happened in the cell earlier still weighed on his mind as he wasn't sure what it all meant that she'd basically promised to be whatever he wanted. What did that mean? What intention did she have in regards to him? The nature in which she had made her offer, the way she'd touched and pressed her mouth to him, had been of a clearly sexual kind, but what did that truly entail? What's more was the question of if he wanted such an offer to come to fruition.

"Former wife, as we're long separated and estranged," he clarified, clearing his throat and attempting to banish his other, less appropriate, thoughts. "She's returned home to be closer to Bella."

"Oh," Betsy said, as she crossed her arms. "Well, that's just... wonderful."

"Is mommy going home with us, daddy?"

The hopefulness in Bella's voice was hard to ignore. Add on the way she was clinging to Katrina and he knew there was no denying her. To be honest, he hadn't really thought this that far through. Exhaustion plagued him and he was really only functioning in his ability to make plans with minute to minute intervals.

"Yes, sweetheart, why don't you and your mother go get your things while I speak with Ms. Ross?"

As Bella happily began leading Katrina toward the school, he turned to Betsy, who was watching them with a confused expression.

"I know this is unexpected," he began as he reached for her hand. "I'm so sorry to spring it on you without warning."

Not that he'd had any proper warning, either. This was all entirely new.

Gaze still fixed on Bella and Katrina as they walked away, Betsy said, "You told me Bella's mother wasn't a part of her life."

"She hasn't been," he said as he quickly scrambled for an excuse. "Mine and Katrina's lives drifted in opposite directions and..."

"Yeah, you told me that before," she said as she turned to him, her eyes filled with questions. "But what I took from the way you said it was that her mother wasn't interested in being a mother, which is why you have full custody."

"That's-" He let her hands go to run them both down his face. "This was an unexpected reunion."

Why hadn't he just taken Bella home to introduce her to Katrina? It would have left this problem for another day as he hadn't even considered Betsy being here on the drive over. He didn't want to consider the implications of what his lack of foresight regarding her could mean. She'd been so concerned over the past few days, constantly checking in on Bella. How could he have forgotten her?

"So, she just popped up without warning?" Betsy glanced back at the school. "She didn't even tell you?"

The hole he was in was only getting deeper.

"It's complicated," he began, wishing he'd thought this out beforehand. "But I think it's safe to say that Katrina is here for good. She's serious about being here for Bella."

"And you're alright with that?" Betsy stared at him, confusion lacing her dark features. "I find that very hard to believe with how protective you are of Bella. I mean, you haven't even spoken to her since Bella's birth. How do you even know what kind of person she is now?"

"I don't," he answered, being honest for the first time. "I honestly can't be sure of what Katrina will do now that she's back, but I truly feel she has Bella's best interests at heart. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she loves our daughter."

Eyes falling closed, Betsy shook her head. "This is crazy."

Taking her hands in a gentle hold, he leaned close to her. "I'm so sorry about this. Here I am, meant to be making some sort of decision in regards to a future for us and now I've gone and made life more difficult for everyone."

When she met his eyes, she whispered, "Ichabod, I care for you and Bella a great deal. I just don't want to see her get hurt."

"I know and-"

"I'm ready, daddy!"

Jerking back from Betsy as though burned, he turned to find Bella skipping with a smile, her hand still locked in Katrina's.

Katrina, on the other hand, wasn't smiling. She wasn't exactly glaring, but he felt she was surely frying Betsy alive in her mind. It left him with the urge to take another whole step away from Betsy as a precaution.

"That's good, sweetheart," he said, forcing his own smile as he avoided both women's eyes in favor of his daughter's. "Well, uh..." He cleared his throat and bent to pick Bella up. "We should get you home, then."

"Mommy, too?" she asked, her smile brighter than it had been in days.

Her happiness was so contagious that he couldn't help his own smile's turn to one of genuineness. "Of course."

Betsy placed her hand on his arm as she looked up at Bella. "I'm very happy you're well again, Bella."

"Thanks, Ms. Ross."

Betsy smiled and turned to Katrina, who seemed to be in deep thought. "It was nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon if you're to be staying in Sleepy Hollow."

A thin smile eased onto Katrina's face.

"I'm sure we will." Katrina, then, laid a hand to his back, her touch sending the whisper of a thrill through him. "This is where my family is, after all."

The slight inflection on the word 'my' set his heart to beating more quickly.

Not wishing to endure another moment of this uncomfortable situation, he nodded to Betsy and began walking toward the car, all the while wondering into what sort of mess he'd just gotten himself.

Well, that love triangle just got kicked off. Then again, how much of it is love and how much is possessiveness? We shall see ;)

Next up: Katrina's first night with Ichabod and Bella.