Abbie laid quietly in Ichabod's arms as Snow White ended and Cinderella came up next on her queue. Part of her knew that he must be uncomfortable. She had been laying in his arms for over an hour. She had stopped crying sometime after the seven dwarves had gone whistling off to work. While she cried Ichabod gently stroked her hair with is left hand, allowing her to cling to his right arm as if were her life line. I should get up. He is married and here I am taking advantage of his kindness. Ichabod was massaging soothing circles into her scalp. He's touch feels heavenly. I could lay here forever. Abbie fought the urge to sink further into the couch and his touch. She was beginning to accept the fact that she had feelings for her friend. But she saw no need in doing something that could ruin their friendship.
Abbie couldn't begin to imagine how great it would be if Ichabod returned her feelings. She had never felt more comfortable or safe as she did lying here in this moment. She couldn't bring herself to move. If she couldn't have him for herself, then this here would have to be enough. Abbie gave an involuntary shiver as Ichabod dropped his fingers from the top of her head down to the back of her neck, gently stroking and massaging the tension away. Abbie drew blood when she bit her lip in an effort to keep from groaning when Crane stopped massaging her neck and pulled his hand away. Abbie took this to mean that he knew she was no longer crying and was seeking to put a respectable distance back between them.
Before Abbie could lift herself from Crane's lap, he grabbed the fluffy navy blue and white blanket that was thrown over the back of the couch. He used the blanket to cover Abbie's tiny frame, and his hand made its way back to her neck. Abbie gave another shiver as she relaxed her body back down.
"Do you require another blanket Miss Mills? I could acquire another from the hall closet?" Ichabod had felt Abbie's tremors and was mistaken as to the reason behind their occurrence. "No, it's okay," Abbie murmured. " Do you mind handing me the pillow from the end of the couch though? My back is beginning to ache at this angle."
Ichabod knew that he should release her from their tangle of limbs. Allow her to stand and stretch and reclaim her personal space. However, he didn't want to let her go. So instead, he reached for the pillow at the end of the couch and handed to Abbie. Abbie lifted her torso slightly from Crane's lap and pushed his right arm away from her chest. She tucked the pillow beneath her back, on Crane's lap and settled back down. Crane's right arm dangled uselessly on the side of the couch. He thought it would be inappropriate to drape it across her body as he had done before. I did that in an effort to comfort her as she cried. It probably made her uncomfortable. I shan't do it again and offend her.
Ichabod had become resolved to continue to allow his arm to hang over the couch, no matter the fact that it already felt like pins and needles. Ichabod watched silently as Cinderella's animal friends helped her create a gown that could be worn to the seven dwarfs' house. Or at least that he thought was happening. It actuality, he had been unable to focus on anything but Abbie laying his lap since the first movie had started. Ichabod was more focused on the sweet smell of her strawberry shampoo and the silky softness of her hair. This, combined with the strain of preventing his body from having a reaction to her physical proximity that she might consider untoward, had him ready to vibrate out of his skin.
A few minutes before, just as Ichabod had begun to massage her neck Abbie had let out the most delightful moan. Ichabod was quite sure that it had been completely unintentional, but it had been music to his ears. Ichabod couldn't remember feeling this content, this happy, in a very long time. Ichabod had known love. He thought that he had loved Katrina with everything he had. But even still, those feelings didn't even begin to measure up to the ones he felt for the young woman lying in his arms. Ichabod studied Abbie's face as her legs uncurled slightly and sleep claimed her.
They had started this battle almost a year ago to the day. They had begun as partners, forced together with either getting little choice in the matter. Slowly that reluctant partnership had grown and evolved into the friendship they now shared. Now that he knew Abbie, he couldn't even imagine how he had survived without her. She was so unlike any woman he had ever known. Confident, strong, brave, sweet, funny, vulnerable, and Abbie cared deeply and passionately for those closest to her. Ichabod thought himself lucky to be a part of that inner circle. The quality Ichabod adored the most was Abbie's unfaltering honesty.
After Katrina's story had slowly begun to unravel, Crane had feared that no one could be trusted. It had been almost ten long months since he had learned he had a son. It had also been ten long months since Katrina had come to visit him in his sleep. He had no way of knowing why she had not attempted contact again.
He had given up so much from his time, and was forced into so much more in this one because of Katrina's lies. After first learning about the things Katrina kept from him, his son included, Ichabod had never felt more betrayed. But then there Abigail was, she didn't tell him that it was going to be okay. She didn't tell him that it was okay to trust again. She showed him. She showed him that every day it would get a little bit easier.
Crane played with the locks of hair on Abbie's back. Yes, he had devastated by learning some unfortunate truths, but if he were honest with himself? If he were sent back in time, he would take the path that led him back to Abbie every time. Tightening his grip on Abbie to be assured that she did not fall during the night, Ichabod tilted his head back against the couch, and fell into the most peaceful slumber he had since his return.