Abbie walked into her home.

"Crane! I'm home."

She stepped into the living room. The room was now silent empty of the cursing parrots and apparently of Ichabod Crane.

"Crane? Where are you?"

Abbie called. She removed her badge and gun placing them on the large mahogany coffee table. She turned her head to the corner of the room where the parrots lived for weeks until they had to be send away. Her sister Jenny had taught them to curse in a weekend while they were out saving the world. Jenny taught them to say "I love you,Crane." and "I love you Abbie." Among other things. Abbie smiled and shook her head. The cursing Parrots were now safe and happy in their new home of retired sailors and Sister Angelica.  Abbie sighed. She missed their screeching whenever she or Crane walked into the living room. She didn't miss sweeping all their bright colored feathers away every few minutes. Abbie couldn't understand how such

Small animals have so many feathers. She took off her shoes and left them by the couch. She threw down her purse on the sofa.

"Hey, Crane! Is anyone home?"

Abbie stepped halfway into the kitchen. She stopped when she heard Jenny and Crane's  voices

inside in mid discussion.

"It was not humorous to have those poor creatures say all those vulgar words, Miss Jenny."

"Says you, icky. I thought it was Hilarious!"

"And to teach them to demand the Lieutenant and I to declare our affection for each other!"

"Teaching them to say you love each other, you mean?"

   Silence.   Abbie's eyebrow lifted and her full mouth opened.

  "Miss Jenny," Ichabod grumbled.

"Just tell her Icky. I'm sure she feels the same way."

"Tis not that easy, Miss Jenny. She is my partner in the Apocalypse. Tis hard to have a relationship when you're trying to fight Pandora and the Hidden One. As well as anything else that will come after us in the seven year tribulations."

"What about after the seven years?"

"The Lieutenant and I are prepared to sacrifice ourselves to save the world, Miss Jenny."

"But what if you two survive?"

Silence. Abbie frowned. She took in a breath and leaned in closer to the doorway. Her hand on the doorframe of the kitchen.

"I... I we've never discussed that," Ichabod muttered softly to himself.

"Well you should, Icky. Cause it is something to think about."

"Yes. Miss Jenny."

  "Oh, come on Icky, I know you're in love with my sister. "Don't try to to deny it. Everyone knows this except you and Abbie. Even Daniel Reynolds. But he's in denial."

"Miss Jenny. Really!" Crane gasped.

"It's ok icky Abbie loves you too. She's been done with Daniel Reynolds for years now."

"Miss Jenny. Please," Ichabod moaned. 

"Please what? Say the truth, you love Abbie. Now you say it?"

Silence.

"Say it or I will deport you back to England. I'm  serious. I can find a way."

Abbie smiled and rolled her eyes. She shook her head. Jenny loved to tease Crane. It seems she  had made it her life's goal to make him uncomfortable. Abbie then made a decision to save Crane. She lowered her hand from the doorframe.

"Crane! Where ARE YOU?!!!"

"We're in here Abs."

Jenny  called from inside. Abbie nodded and entered the kitchen. Abbie smiled at the two standing on either side of the large Marble kitchen island.  

"Am I disturbing you?" 

"Yes. But not in the way you think," Ichabod whispered. His head lowered and he stared at the

marbled island.

"What?"

He looked up. Abbie stared at him.

   "What did you just say?" Abbie asked. She walked into the kitchen and stood next to Crane.

Her eyes focused on him. He lifted his head to meet her eyes.

"Nothing, how was your day, Lieutenant?"

Abbie's eyebrow arched over her eye and she crossed her arms.

"It was fine! A killer of a day. Danny and I had a lunch meeting to discuss a case."

"Danny!" Ichabod muttered low like a curse. His head lowered again. He then slid his eyes to

meet  Jenny's.

Jenny smirked. Her eyebrow raised.

"Tell her."

She mouthed. Her eyes shifted to Abbie.

Abbie frowned at the two.

"What the hell are you two up too?"

Ichabod looked at Jenny. Jenny nodded at him.

"I have to go. Joe is waiting for me at my trailer."

"Okay. Call you later Jenny," Abbie shouted as Jenny left the kitchen.

"Oh, sod it."

Ichabod stepped up to Abbie. His fingers entwined with hers. The palms of their hands pressed against each other. He bent his lean body toward her. Abbie looked up into his eyes. Her mouth open.

"I love you Abbie. I have for some time now. I  just couldn't tell you before," he  replied softly.

Abbie's eyes widened. Her mouth opened as she sucked in a breath of surprise and let it out. 

"Before what?"

"Before your sister threatened to deport me!"

Abbie frowned. She chuckled.

"To where? You're  from the 1700's? Was she going to put you in a time machine?" Abbie

giggled. She closed her eyes and lowered her head. She shook her head at the thought.

"I don't know. But I do know from these three years of knowing Miss Jenny that she  can accomplish anything when she puts her mind to it. And that I'm most certainly afraid of your sister."

Abbie barked out a laugh.

"Good. You should be. If I know Jenny she would find a black market time machine

somewhere," Ichabod chuckled. He stared into Abbie's eyes. His long slender fingers now

massaged her hands.

A heavy silence fell between them as they stared Into each other's eyes.

"So Abbie."

Silence.

His eyebrow lowered and he frowned.

Ichabod released a breath in a sigh. Abbie didn't feel the same you bloody idiot. He  thought.  He released her hand and pulled away.  A frown on his full lips.

"Abbie! You don't have to......I didn't mean to scare you, Lieutenant..... I onl..." he muttered.

"No, no Cr...Ichabod. I love you too. Oh, God, I love you. I've just been such a coward in telling

you."

Abbie reached out and grabbed his hands again. She folded them in her small hands again and

placed them on her heart.

Ichabod lifted his eyes. A huge smile spread across his lips.

"I love you too, Ichabod," Abbie whispered. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I didn't..... I didn't tell you because I didn't want to get in the way of your feelings for Zoe." 

"My feelings for Ms. Corinth? What does my feelings for you have to do with Ms. Corinth?"

Ichabod frowned. He closed his large hands tightly against her chest.

"I thought you wanted her. I  thought you loved her," Abbie whispered. She giggled and shook

her head. She still couldn't believe this was actually happening.

Ichabod laughed.

"The only one I want, my dearest heart, is you. It has always been you."

Ichabod pulled her gently toward him. Abbie took a step up to him and placed her hand on his

chest.

"Good," she chuckled. They smiled at each other. Ichabod leaned forward.

"May I kiss you, Abbie?"

"You better."

Ichabod  smiled suddenly shy. He began to lean forward until Abbie reached out her hands and placed them on both sides of Ichabod's face. She pulled his face closer and Abbie stood on her tip-toes. She softly pressed her lips against his. He was still for a moment and suddenly his lips parted under hers with a loud groan. Both arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer against his large muscular chest. The kiss slid into another and Abbie threaded her long fingers through his short cropped hair. Ichabod cupped the back of her head and crushed her soft petite body hard against him. Abbie gasped as Ichabod trailed small, soft, wet kisses from her chin down her throat.

"My God, I love you Abbie. My dearest heart," he growled against her neck.

"0h. Yes," Abbie moaned. She threw her head back and closed her eyes. Her skin felt red hot; burning. Her nerves sensitive. Abbie felt the wetness of Ichabod's full lips and the hot heat of his breath on her neck. Abbie licked her lips. She curled her fingers into fists around Ichabod's short reddish blonde hair. Tiny shudders of pleasure made her petite body shake.

Ichabod groaned as he caught a scent of oranges from Abbie's fingers and raised his lips to suck on her lips. He grunted as he lifted Abbie by the back of her thighs and replaced her on top of the marble island. 

Abbie gasped as he stuck his tongue in her mouth and sucked with his lips. Ichabod moaned as he tasted the dark bittersweet, rich taste of coffee on her tongue. He savored the delicious taste.

"FINALLY!"

Abbie and Ichabod jumped in surprise to find Jenny leaning her shoulder on the doorframe. Her

arms crossed against her chest. A huge Cheshire smile on her face.

Abbie and Ichabod smiled at Jenny. Then turned their heads to continue their hot, passionate

kiss. Jenny frowned. She lifted her shoulder off the doorframe and sighed. She turned away from the

couple.

"Oh, don't thank me or anything," she muttered softly. She turned to show herself out of the

apartment.

<The End> . Joanna Lopez © 2016