Sorry this took so long, could not get it right. I am still not sure of it but...hopefully i did it justice.

Enjoy and seriously thanks for all of the kind sweet words

"I really doubt this is such a good idea, Miss Mills." Ichabod strained as he sat in the too small chair outside of Jenny's office.

Abbie shrugged and shook her head. "Crane, we been over this. He needs to see someone and Social Services needs to see that you addressed the problem."

He nodded but did not stop his tirade. "Still, your sister does not know Jeremy."

"Hence the consultation visit." Abbie dropped the outdated magazine she had been thumbing through and faced the man at her side.

"Still," Crane cleared his throat. "What if she decides my son needs to be institutionalized?"

"There is nothing wrong with that boy other than being 10 years old and having an over active imagination." Abbie said. "And if there is we will deal with it. But, Jenny is going to see what needs what."

"He's weird." Crane admitted in a small voice.

She glared at him through wide eyes and pursed lips. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? Jeremy is not weird by accident."

Crane's smile lit up the otherwise unoccupied waiting room. They had accepted her terms and showed up on a Friday night when no one else was in the office. Jenny had shown up in jeans and Chucks and had charmed the pants off of both Cranes

She was only a tad bit jealous to have to share them.

Now, forty five minutes of hell on a Friday night trapped in a waiting room with an agitated parent. "He's fine Crane." Abbie insisted again. Crane turned to her to protest her statement just as the office door opened and the younger Crane flew out of the room all smiles. Jeremy landed in Abbie's lap as if he understood her small irrational jealousy from earlier.

"How was it, JerBear?" she asked with her arms around the squirming boy.

He grinned and dipped his head into her shoulder. "Is alright." He nodded.

Crane blew a long breath at his son's repeated misuse of the English language. "Hey, I brought him out alive. " Jenny smiled as she leaned against the door frame. "Mr. Crane. A minute?" Jenny asked with a small tick. Crane turned to Abbie.

"No," Jenny drawled. "Just you this time. " Jenny flashed her best Hannibal Lector smile before leading the man into her office and shutting the door.

Jeremy crawled into the seat next to her left empty by his father. He played his fingers against the arm rest and spoke without meeting Abbie's gaze. "I told the truth, Miss Abbie."

Abbie nodded and crossed her legs affecting an air of affability. In truth she was terrified her sister would label Jeremy insane.

Just like his mother.

That Sunday as the two sisters sat outside the cabin swinging in the old porch swing, Abbie had pressed her sister for more information about Katrina. Jenny, with all her professionalism had repeatedly declined to share any details about Crane's wife.

Now, looking at the young boy she questioned herself if it had been a good idea to get Jenny involved. "Was Jenny helpful?" she asked.

Jeremy nodded haltingly. "I can't believe she's your sister. " he said. You two are nothing alike."

Abbie nodded and smiled. They got that a lot. "Well we both live in Sleepy Hollow." She answered with a smile. The office door opened again and Crane emerged more stoic and quiet. Abbie sent them to the car while she settled up with her sister.

"Abs, you know I can't tell you anything." Jenny started as she locked up her office.

Abbie nodded. "Just wanted to say thanks and that I owe you." Abbie smiled.

"It's Friday night." Jenny smiled waving at her casual outfit. "I am off to Hurley's. Keep by your phone? Maybe answer it?"

"I knew I was gonna regret this. " Abbie laughed as she got into her Jeep and shut the door. "Not too late, yeah? I gotta cover a shift for Riley tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know." Jenny laughed. "Who do you think I am drinking with tonight?"

XxXxXxXxX

The car ride back to the Cranes was quieter than usual. An outsider would not be able to tell but the small smiles and quieter laughs were nothing compared to a usual Friday night outing. Abbie had stopped in for their usual pizzas and the trio decided to eat at home

They sat in front of the large flat screen television that Abbie had prodded Crane into purchasing. If it were up to the two of them, Crane and his son would have little use for a television of any kind.

Now, if only she could get them into cable TV.

Jeremy and Cane had large appetites, which made Abbie wonder where they hid the food once ingested. The two of them were beanstalks. She nibbled on her plain cheese pizza and sat back as her Netflix account was finally put to use.

By 11 o'clock, Jeremy yawned and made for his own room. It was the break the adults had been waiting for.

He placed his coffee on the small table next to the couch and slid in beside her. "First," he said after clearing his throat. "I want to thank you for helping me with Jeremy."

"Crane, you don't have to—" Crane raised his hand and shook his head before speaking.

"If not for you, Miss Mills, and your sister, I don't know where we would be." His blue eye twinkled as he spoke. "Your friendship holds the utmost of importance to me." Crane took her calloused hands into his smooth ones. "So different you and I." I shook his head. "And yet…"

He kissed her before she realized he could move so fast. His lips were as soft and seemingly unused as his hands. Crane brought her closer with a gentle tug on the fingers he still held.

She wanted to establish ground rules, to make sure he understood boundaries of any relationship they may forge. Even as she raged outwardly against any glimmer of wanting more with her friend, she had, in the quiet hours under her covers, imagined his arms about her, her body responding to his attention.

Abbie wanted all those things, but in the end, she melted into him just as Crane had always known she would. "Miss Mills." He said after coming up for air. "We should talk."

"You think?" Abbie offered with a half-smile. He was looking at her lips while he spoke, "I did not mean for this." He said as his arms snaked around her middle and drew her into him. They shared one spot on the couch. "But I could not go on the way things are between us."

Abbie nodded but found her mouth oddly bereft of speech patterns. "I couldn't go on without knowing what it felt like to hold you in my arms. Do you understand?"

Abbie nodded again and placed her head on Crane's chest to hear the sound of his heart. "Abbie, this is a most unusual situation."

"Charlotte Bronte." She finally offered. Crane pulled her face with his long slender fingers and looked at her eyes. "Of course you are well read." He smiled. "Yes, that would make you Jane."

"Call me Jane and I will hurt you."

His smile seemed to come out of nowhere. "Your sister," Crane began. "

"Yeah, she got the brains in the family."

Crane searched her face for humor but found none. "I would have to disagree with that."

Abbie shrugged and countered with a change of subject. "SO what's the genius's prognosis?"

"She thinks that our Jeremy has a vivid imagination." Crane said. "And he has the potential to go off course if he doesn't use the force properly."

Abbie smiled "Yeah, she is a bit of a geek." But, he is going to be all right then?"

Miss Jenny seems to think that Jeremy's over active imagination would be best served for a child of his intelligence to start writing. Either keeping a journal or…" Crane waved his hands in front of him "..magical stories."

Abbie could not argue with that logic. It seemed so simple and yet, it was the kind of thing that really could redirect Jeremy. "So, that's it then?" she asked with relief.

"Not quite," Crane amended.

"Oh?" Abbie asked before taking a long sip of her wine. If it was bad Crane would have lead with it. This was something different. "She wants to see him again?"

"Well yes, once a week. Just to make sure he is still following her recommendations about a creative outlet." Crane nodded, "She seems to get the impression that you have a rather large influence in his life." Crane turned a pointed look at her. "Nearly maternal."

Abbie fell back into the couch and sighed "It's not like that, Crane.." Abbie insisted, not sure if she was convincing herself or placating the man next to her. "It's not as if I came here to—"

Abbie rose from the couch in a desperate struggle to do as she did best, but Crane's massive hand encircled her tiny left arm and drew her to him. "He needs it." Crane smiled. "Abbie, do you know how long it has been since he has had someone he feels he can trust."

"He has a mother." Abbie said feeling the weight of his hand on her arm, reveling in it.

""He has you." Crane said. "And it's a good thing he does. Jenny seems to feel he relies upon your presence in his life. You and I both know she is unable to fulfil that capacity, or any other for that matter. Abbie, I do not feel an ill will toward your being in Jeremy's life. I feel, more than grateful. How could you think I would castigate you for loving my son?"

She felt silly then, shrugged like a little girl and bowed her head. "At some point Katrina will get better. She will be able to be here with you and Jeremy…"

"I did not go looking for a replacement, and anyway you would never be that. You filled a hole in his life. He is a different person with

Crane shook his head and pulled her into his lap. "Still," he shook his head. "Still," he said again with more force. "Abbie, I could lose myself in you."

Her face burned with the knowledge that what he said she felt in spades.

"I am not free." He sighed. "But, I long for you so much." Crane dipped down to brush his lips over hers, a shudder passed through him and finished in Abbie. "You are the singularity of desire for me. I need…" He bent into her again, this time a kiss that would have set fire to Antarctica.

"We should stop," Abbie panted between kisses that became more ardent and desperate. Somewhere Crane's tongue had developed a taste for the inside of her mouth and his hands had become firmer in their movements. It was her last vestige of propriety, the guilt of being here, with Crane was too much for her to bear.

Almost

Because on the other shoulder sat the demon who whispered sweet nothings into her ear and told her of how she deserved this, deserved him. How many nights had Abbie found herself curled into a ball fighting the exact things she was now doing? "We should stop," she said again with less ardor and conviction than ten seconds before.

"We should." He gasped with a short nod before plunging into the depths of her mouth again.

Some small part of her, perhaps the one that paid attention through all of those Psychology classes and garnered her A average, was aware of the wrongness of their make out session. She cared even less when he nipped at her bottom lip; when his hands found their way to the skin contact she so craved as he pummeled her shirt for access.

She could feel his excitement as she straddled his lap. Her arms enclosed the shoulders she had dreamt of for so long. Finally finding purchase, Crane removed the offending object from her body. His hands were fire across her skin as he clutched and grabbed.

"I need to be inside you," Crane said as he kissed each breast gently. "I need to consume you."

Abbie pulled at his button down shirt and dragged it over his long frame. "Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?" she asked freeing his shirt.

"You've mentioned it on occasion." He answered with a breathy whisper and a roll of his hips. "I could talk less if you like." He murmured into her shoulder as he unhooked her bra.

"Don't think you are capable of it, Crane. " She grinned into the kiss as her bra slid down her strong arms.

"Now who is talking too much?" he took her breasts into his large hands and kneaded them like a seasoned baker with his favorite dough. "I could hold these forever." He worshipped before taking one into his mouth.

Abbie sighed into a groan as the sensations hit her. "Finally, a way to keep you quiet."

Crane nodded as he continued his oral appreciation of her. His hands tugged at her jeans as Abbie lost control of the lower half of her body.

By the time they made it to the floor in front of the large bookshelf, they were both shirtless and rolling around on the ancient Turkish rug. The two lovers wrestled with arms and legs and lips until they were freed of any clothing.

He stared down at her then, in the faded light of his obscure lamps among all of his collected ancient things. "Abbie," he said with a question in his mouth that did not reach his eyes.

She nodded, even with the million 'no's' proliferating in her brain, it was the loud and insistent yes that fell from her parted over kissed lips. He needed to know she wanted this, as if he could not feel the puddles gathering within her just from his touch.

She in turn pressed her hands against his cheeks and pulled his lips to hers. He scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs and into his bedroom.

XxXxXxX

Sunlight poured through the sheer organza that covered the windows of the bedroom. Abbie awoke with a start and fumbled in the strange bedroom. The alarm clock next to her read 5:57, and she was alone in bed.

Not her bed.

Memories like a basket full of apples tumbled onto her head. She searched for her clothes and slipped into the adjacent bathroom. She splashed water on her face and stared at the evidence in the mirror. He had been an ardent and consuming lover; she'd give him that. He hadn't backed down from any challenge she offered and rose to the occasion three times.

Now, Abbie pulled her tee-shirt over the marks on her neck and collar. She had to be at work in an hour and had no way of sneaking out of this house without Jeremy seeing her.

Damn, how could they be so irresponsible? Not to mention somewhere between the chafed knees, sore thighs and what Abbie was certain was enough DNA under her nails to find the assailant—somewhere in there was the dirty word that she didn't dare speak or even consider. Somewhere within the charred depths of their now ruined friendship lie the seed of something that could have grown, that probably should have been allowed to burst through the newly opened ground.

She recalled leaving her clothes downstairs and made her way as quietly as possible. On the vanity, just next to the door of the large room she found her things neatly folded; Next to them she found a small basket of toiletries.

Had he been planning this all along or was it OCD finally rearing its head? Abbie shook her head to allay the fog of too many questions before a single cup of coffee had been consumed. She pushed open the door to the adjacent bathroom.

XxXxXx

"Found everything?" he asked as she crept out of the bathroom.

Abbie jumped at his voice and tried to hide the fear in her answer. "I had to use your…Katrina's…"

Crane shook his head and sat on the newly made bed. "None of that is hers, you know." He amended with an odd look. "I told you, when I woke up she was already institutionalized."

Abbie released the hand clutching together the lapels of the pink fluffy robe that she had found in the emerald green bathroom. It had taken her two full minutes to decide if she could bear to use it or not. "I don't understand."

"And we don't have a lot of time before you need to be at work." Crane nodded handing her a mug of coffee. "We can talk at dinner tonight." He nodded and closed the door behind him. Abbie dressed quickly. Downstairs he handed her a to-go mug of coffee, a breakfast burrito wrapped in a paper towel still warm, and a soft kiss on her cheek. "Don't be weird about this, Abbie. It was time"

Abbie nodded in lieu of speaking, grabbed the Jeep keys from his dangling fingers and smiled. "I'm not being weird." She defended.

Crane nodded. "Yes you are."

To prove herself completely okay with the change in their relationship, she leaned into him and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. "You're weird." She laughed.

"I am, but that has already been established." He smiled. "See you at dinner." It was not a question, rather an assertion that she could not evade. Abbie nodded as he offered her car keys from his long fingers "See you after your shift? We have much to discuss," the last part was whispered into her ear as a remnant of the night before. They had scaled dazzling heights and through it was his instance of flying together. Always together.

Abbie left through the opened door and fished her phone out of her coat pocket. A missed called followed by an answered one at 2:30 am, both Jenny. Her seat was too far back and them mirrors were all wrong. Someone had driven her car. "Crane," she fired into the phone as she pulled out of his driveway.

"Ah, did I mention your sister's need of livery at 2:30 am?" He answered without a greeting.

"You did not." She answered not sure how she felt about it. Was she angry that he used her car, answered her phone and forgot to tell her? Or, was it something else that bugged her.

"I didn't want to wake you. I knew you had to be at work in the morning, and I thought I would just pop out for a minute. She was quite inebriated." Crane cleared his throat nervously "She mentioned something about a zero finger favor."

Abbie could hear the worry at the edges of his voice. Crane was worried she would be mad, snap or simply end this fragile thing they had patched together with no name.

XxXxXxX

"So, I really like the new taxi service you're employing. " Jenny sang through the phone halfway through Abbie's morning shift. "Door to curb service and even brought coffee, I tell you Han Solo is a keeper."

Abbie knew where this was going and had no intentions of helping her sister arrive there. "Just glad you made it home in one piece." She tapped her pencil on the stack of paperwork she had spent half the morning avoiding.

"Well, am I to assume I have been a bad influence on you?"

"Nope." Abbie answered noncommittally.

"Right, so answering your phone and using your car to pick up your sister at oh dark thirty in the morning wouldn't constitute an established relationship."

"Don't shrink me," Abbie said. "And no judging. In fact, does this call have a point or are you just dirt fishing?"

"I'll take fishing expeditions for 400, Alex." She could practically hear the shrug in her sister's response. "No judging and I am not a shrink." Jenny said. "But Crane driving your car now? You know what that means?"

"Jenny…" Abbie rubbed her eyes with her hands knowing this was payment for having a younger sister.

"Your Jeep is now the Millennium Falcon." Jenny giggled and hung up.

Abbie growled to herself and tried to ignore Luke's furtive looks of accusatory indignation. He glowered for a solid hour before lunch and Abbie wondered how he got any work done. She wondered if there had been placed a neon sign upon her head stating exactly how she had spent her Friday night.

Maybe it was just guilt.

But guilty of what? That she had slept with a married man? That she had thoroughly enjoyed being loved and worshipped in his arms?

He had told her last night that he wasn't free, that the hold of his wife would remain as a specter over whatever relationship the two of them have, or would have, or are having.

Shit.

So what they had slept together? Aside from her trepidation this morning and the odd conversation regarding a fluffy pink robe, there was nothing else to it. Birds do it; bees do it; even lonely broken hearted friends do it.

Her phone dragged her out of her reverie. The caller ID warned of a noon time Crane attack. She ignored it and turned back to her paperwork. There were only so many personal issues she could deal with during a nine hour shift.