Here's something inspired by the 4th of July and a user on Tumblr, who encouraged me to write this. Hope you like it. :) This is my first Ichabbie kiss scene. I usually don't go into detail with their kisses because I don't want it to be cliche'. I think it turned out well though. Feedback is welcome. :) (There were fireworks back then in Crane's time from what I read in an article from The Huffington Post. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you.)

Abbie spread a blanket out on the grass in front of a tree. When the blanket was on the ground, Crane sat down and leaned against the oak. He looked up at Abbie, held his legs and arms open wide for her. She smiled at him and sat down between his long limbs. Abbie relaxed into him as his arms wrapped around her. His head rested on top of hers.

The sun was setting and families were everywhere. They were near the back, further from mostly everyone, so they had a little bit of privacy. Abbie thought it would be fun to take Crane to see the fireworks for the first time. They would have been before, but their jobs as Witnesses got in the way. They were able to take a break today though. Nothing scary was running around.

"Did they have fireworks back then, Crane?"

"Indeed, Miss Mills. We celebrated our independence before we actually received it. It was a sensational and hopeful time. Granted, our works of fire weren't of this magnitude, but our celebrations were quite festive. We were forging a new nation. Unfortunately though, I come from a time where not the entire population was free to live as they pleased. I'm terribly sorry about the way your ancestors were treated. I'm quite honored to live in a century where every abled body and mind has the right to dictate their present and future."

Abbie played with his fingers. "It's not like you owned slaves, Crane. You didn't do anything wrong."

Abbie kissed his knuckles. She didn't like it when he blamed himself for something he didn't do. She knew where this conversation would go and where it was coming from.

"I stood idly by; sometimes I turned a blind eye even. I can't imagine such a person holding you in that type of physical and emotional bondage, in that type of devilment."

"Does this have anything to do with what I told you about Officer Sutton?"

Knowing that Abbie almost ended up in slavery horrified her as well. But luckily, the past Crane listened to her and took her side.

"It does. It enrages me, Abbie. I couldn't live with myself if something such as that happened to you while you were time traveling." He entwined their fingers.

"You mean slavery? You can say the word, Crane."

"I'd rather not."

"It's not a very fun topic, but slavery is over now. Sadly, we still aren't treated as equals, even in 2015, but we have come further than we have before. That's something to celebrate."

"Is that what this holiday signifies to you?"

"Yes. Even though we didn't gain our independence until much later, today is still a reminder to rejoice and acknowledge our freedom as American citizens."

"I'm glad you are rather optimistic of this day."

"There's no sense in living in the past."

"As you once said, 'You see what you have now, and you embrace what's in front of you.'"

"Exactly." Abbie smiled up at him; he smiled back, held her closer.

"I'm thankful that I woke up in this century. If I hadn't, I never would have had the pleasure of being present in this extraordinary world with you. I'm grateful to God for you, Miss Mills."

"I'm grateful for you, too."

He kissed her on her forehead. It was almost dark.

"Are you excited, Crane?" She glanced at him. She knew he was. He was excited about every new person, place, or thing he encountered. It was always fun seeing him interact with the new world around him. She loved watching him learn about the 21st century. It always made her curious to observe his reactions. Sometimes his rants made her appreciate what she had in an entirely new way.

"I am. Are you, Miss Mills?"

She turned to look at the sky. "I am. When Jenny and I were little, there was a park near our home that put on a fireworks show. On a good day, when mama wasn't worrying about demons, we used to sit outside in our front yard and watch them. We ate caramel popcorn and cashews. Jenny would sit in her lap and mama would have her arm around me." She paused. "It was nice."

"It sounds like a wonderful memory of your mother. I'm sure if she were here, you, her, and Miss Jenny would be in your front yard now."

"I like to think so. Speaking of popcorn, I forgot it in the car."

"Would you like me to fetch it for you?"

"No. Stay here. The show is about to start. I don't want you to miss it." Abbie got up and rushed to the car. She didn't want to miss it either. She hurried to it and hurried back with the caramel popcorn and nuts in zip lock bags. Abbie didn't like to share her popcorn, even with Crane. She sat back down in his lap and handed him his bag. She opened hers. As she began to dig in, Crane tried to reach his hand in her popcorn bag. She held it away from him.

"You have your own." She pushed his hand away.

"But yours is so much better."

She let him have one piece of popcorn and a cashew.

"These are quite delicious." Abbie heard him open his own bag.

"That's why you have your own." She ate some of her snack. "I bet you're going to eat the cashews first."

"I am. You know me so well. The caramel corn is worth waiting for."

Abbie shook her head. She knew Crane would say that. He always liked to eat the boring stuff first. One time, they went to dinner and Crane ate all his vegetables first, then the meat. Abbie went for the meat. In this case, she ate her popcorn first. Sometimes she ate her popcorn and cashews together though.

"Why wait?"

"Sometimes waiting is best. Rushing can spoil the moment. However, there are instances where one must rush."

She lowered her eyebrows. "Such as?"

Crane stood up behind her. He wiped his hands on his pants, stood in front of Abbie, and held out his hands for her. After closing her bag, she set it aside, grabbed his hands. After he helped her up, he gently backed up her into the tree he was leaning on.

"What are you doing?" The fireworks were about to start.

"I was going to delay this until a more proper time, but no one is paying attention and we have a bit of isolation. Plus, I simply can't help myself. Holding you isn't enough right now." He put his hands on her cheeks. "May I?"

Abbie didn't respond. She put her hands on his wrists and slowly leaned up to kiss him herself. At first it was just a peck, something light. "Does that answer─?"

They both turned toward the fireworks when they heard them pop. They saw red and blue firecrackers invade the clear sky and they faced each other.

"Happy 4th, Crane."

"Happy 4th, Miss Mills."

They leaned into each other, eager to encounter the other's lips again. Crane's tasted like pieces of salt. She kissed them softly.

"Your lips are so sweet," he said.

She felt his tongue slide in her mouth. It tasted like cashews.

"Caramel tastes wondrous on you."

Abbie pushed her fingers through his hair, pulling him as close possible. She leaned further into the tree. The bark was scratchy under her shoulder blades, but she didn't care. She wanted Crane to savor as much of her as he could. She wanted to relish him, too. Their tongues swirled together, forming a honeyed and briny flavor. Sighing, Abbie was completely satisfied with their tied mouths. Crane was, too. He hands were at the bottom of her back, under her shirt; his fingertips outlined the curve of her skin. She craved more of this intimacy. He lightly bit her bottom lip before he stopped. She didn't feel his teeth or lips anymore, just his forehead against hers. They were both panting.

"Is this what you meant about the rushing thing?"

"Yes." He kissed her forehead as more fireworks went off. Abbie barely heard the rest of them until now. He was all she could focus on.

"I see."

"We should probably observe the fireworks. We're missing them as we speak."

"We should." She nodded her head.

"However, at the moment, I'd rather not." He moved his hands further up her shirt. They felt like butterflies: light and swift. She wanted to touch his skin, but she didn't want Crane to step out of who he was. This was already crossing the line. She knew this was as far as Crane would go. That was okay with her. She enjoyed every bit of their kiss, even though it was madness; Abbie wanted to crack like an egg, to let the yolk, the desire inside of her escape for him. But until he was ready for that, she gladly accepted whatever he was willing to give her.

They continued to kiss while the fireworks show went on. It didn't matter anymore because the fireworks were within them; it was in their sighs, their grips, the flavors of their tongues. To feel and indulge in those fireworks was worth the rushing for Abbie.