Chapter Text
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Reverend Leena Reyes smiled at the couple, “Abbie, you may now kiss your husband.”
Abbie reached up and pulled Ichabod down for a kiss that almost made him blush, but he wasn’t about to complain. Grace Abigail Mills was now Grace Abigail Mills Crane and if she wanted to make him blush with the passion of her kisses, he would blush happily for the rest of his life.
Frank Irving approached Leena at the reception. Abbie and Ichabod were slow dancing to their wedding song, “So, it seems I owe you some money.”
Leena looked over at Frank. She’d come back from sabbatical to officiate the wedding at Ichabod’s request. He’d told her that next to his mother, there was no one he would rather have marry him to the woman of his dreams. That alone was worth the twenty hour flight from Bora Bora…taking Frank Irving’s money was just icing on the cake.
“Yes, I believe you said it would take a year for Abbie to agree to marry Ichabod.”
“I did…and you said it would take six months tops,” he replied, handing over the twenty dollar bill. Leena took it with a smile but noticed some writing on it, “Abbie?” her face quizzical.
“Abbie came with me to Sunday service, where as you know she met Crane,” Frank explained, “I bet her twenty bucks that she would enjoy the service. She lost the bet. I kept her twenty for luck – I was rooting for those two.”
“Why Frank, you softy,” Reyes turned to observe Abbie and Ichabod so obviously in love, “But you’re right…I think we were all rooting for them.”
“How did you know if would only take six months,” Frank side eyed the reverend, “You didn’t know Abbie.”
Reyes pocketed the twenty with a smile, “I didn’t need to know Abbie. I knew Ichabod.”
__________
“Ichabod,” Abbie laughed, “Put me down!”
“Now Treasure, it is tradition that a man carries his wife over the threshold of their home.”
“Ok Reverend Traditional,” Abbie smirked, as he placed her gently on her feet in their new three bedroom, two bath house in Sleepy Hollow. Abbie was sold on the craftsman style house because of the open layout and the kitchen. Ichabod was sold on the front porch swing, telling her, “Just imagine the summer evenings after work, enjoying each other’s company as the sun goes down?”
They didn’t think they’d be able to afford the house, but Ichabod’s father had told them they could have Ichabod’s part of the estate his wife had left when she died if they wanted it early. It was just enough for a solid down payment on the house. Abbie had hugged Archibald “Archie” Crane for his generosity.
Ichabod opened the cat carrier and Rufus came out slowly, sniffing her new home, “I think Rufus will quite like this house,” he observed.
“You know what else I think Rufus is going to like,” Abbie asked, putting her arms around her husband.
“What’s that, Treasure?”
“Being an older sister…”
Ichabod face showed his confusion until his brain caught up with his ears and he lifted Abbie in his arms again, swinging her around the empty living room.
Isabella Crane was born six months later. She had her mother’s eyes and her father’s curls.
__________
“Daddy, where’s mommy,” four year old Isabella Crane asked from atop her father’s shoulders.
“She should be coming up any moment, Bella.” Abbie was marching in the Sleepy Hollow Memorial Day Parade with a contingent of local police offices, including Captain Frank Irving.
“My Mommy’s a police officer,” Isabella said proudly to the little boy next to her on his father’s shoulders. August Corbin was a recent widower and his son Joe got him out the house by begging to come to the parade. August didn’t want to go, but there’s wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for his five year old son.
“She’s more than that. Your mummy is a Leftenant,” Ichabod said, turning slightly to look up at the little girl.
“Lefttant,” Isabella asked, trying out the word, “Almost sweetheart, but close enough,” Ichabod encouraged.
They both saw Abbie as she rounded the corner walking in the middle of the street with the other police officers. The day was a hot one and Abbie’s feet were swollen, but she loved this town and showing them that the police could be good allies for the community was important to her. Over the years, she’d mentored kids trying to get clean as part of her police duties. Tommy sometimes still showed up in her dreams and Abbie accepted he always would. But when he did, Ichabod held her, reminding Abbie of all the good her life held, including their little girl.
Isabella waved at Abbie with both hands, “Leftant Mommy! Leftant Mommy!!!”
“Leftenent Mommy?” Frank laughed as he and Abbie waved to Bella and Ichabod.
Abbie looked over at her friend, “Are you making fun of my little girl? You know I’ll break your face for that, right?”
“Stand down mama bear,” Frank deadpanned, “I wouldn’t make fun of my goddaughter. Now her mother on the other hand…” Frank shrugged.
“I hate your ass,” Abbie shook her head with a small smile. Frank Irving would never change and Abbie would never want him to.
“Yeah, but you owe my ass,” Frank replied, “If it weren’t for me, you might be married to Morales.”
“Oh, now I really hate your ass,” Abbie said drily, still waving to the crowds as the parade continued, “But assuming you’re correct, how do I repay this mammoth debt I owe you.”
“Well Mills, if this next kid is a boy, name him after me.”
Abbie turned to Frank, incredulous, “How’d you…never mind,” she said turning back to face front, “Assume you know everything.”
“Exactly…assume I know everything.”
Franklin Clifford Crane was born six months later. He looked nothing like his namesake, but for reasons Abbie never wanted to explain, seemed to know everything.