Abbie and Crane walked into the aquarium. They would have gone to the Tarrytown Museum of Colonial History, but Abbie didn't want to take the chance. She wanted to stay away from any place that resurfaced memories of Katrina. The last time they went there, they were searching for a manuscript to stop Abraham, which eventually led them to the subject of Crane's wife. He didn't need to be reminded of that. Today was a good day; she wanted to keep it that way. Crane was in his normal, ranting mood.

"Miss Mills, why must we attend this aquarium where we gaze at a multitude of fish? This is utterly more ridiculous than Uno."

"It's just for fun, Crane. A recreational activity for family and friends."

"An historical museum would have been most suitable."

"Did you want to get kicked out?"

He raised his eyebrows at her. "I can assure you, I would have been calm."

"If you say so. Does Paul Revere sound familiar, Steve?"

"Very funny."

They stopped in front of a tank full of turtles. Most of them swam apart, but there were two that stuck together, side by side. They reminded Abbie of her and Crane. Partners. She thought about last week when Crane told her that she was his heart's desire. He meant it, despite the alcoholic affect. They didn't talk about it since then. For one, their job as Witnesses distracted them, so there was no downtime. When they did take a break, they just wanted to relax. They didn't want to deal with anything too heavy right away. Now that the latest Boogie Man was destroyed, Abbie thought today would be a good day to discuss their relationship. However, she didn't know where to start or how to bring up the subject without being awkward.

"Is something troubling you, Leftenant? You seem rather quiet."

She took her eyes off the turtles to face Crane.

"Just thinking."

"Would you care to share your thoughts?"

"Maybe later."

He nodded his head, turned back to the turtles. She felt him grab her hand. She stared at him again.

"I'm here."

"I know." She released his hand as they went to see the whales.

"What in God's name?" Crane glanced her with his mouth open.

Abbie laughed at him. "I know. It's huge. What is a whale doing in a building and not in the sea?"

"This is preposterous, Leftenant."

"It does make you feel kind of bad, but some of these animals are endangered. There aren't many of them left. They're in here for protection. At least that's what I like to think. Maybe they'll be released to their home soon instead of being in here for our entertainment."

"I dearly hope so." He stared at the whale with his mouth open again. "That really is quite a big fellow. Look at the size. How did they even haul it in here? How do they tend to it?"

Abbie chuckled at him and shook her head. "You and your questions, Crane."

While they continued to gawk at the whale, Abbie wondered about her conversation with him. She knew she wanted to talk to him, but she needed a moment to herself before she could. She wanted to figure out her feelings for him. Abbie could see herself with Crane. He was sweet, a gentleman. She trusted him. She was more vulnerable, open with him than anyone. She even told him that her faith in him was her greatest weakness. He weakened her. He was her downfall. That was alot for her to tell him.

Even though he was her weakness, he was also her strength. If she wasn't fighting for anyone else, then she was fighting for Crane. His faith gave her faith, gave her even more drive to fulfill her purpose as a Witness. He reminded her that he was there with her, which gave her what she needed to continue their fight.

Abbie cared for Crane. She did. He helped lead her to her purpose after all. He even found his in the process. But did she love him? She cared for him, of course. But did she love him? She felt like she did. There was no other word for it. She loved him. She defended him, she protected him, she made him laugh. The love was there. Was it the love that Crane felt for her? She hoped it would grow to that point. She wanted it to. Luke treated her well, but Crane treated her like a woman. She felt wanted, needed, important, especially when he kissed her hand, complimented her lips, and held her that night.

She was afraid. She was definitely afraid to enter a relationship with him. Although she trusted Crane and would do whatever she could for him, there were some things they would have to talk about. Katrina was the biggest subject. He was still grieving her and their son. How could they be together if he's still mourning them? He would always miss them, but she didn't want it to hurt him as much. She couldn't move forward with him if he was still too wounded. She wanted to give him time. She wouldn't wait forever, but she'd give him the space he needed to let it out. She certainly wasn't going to push him to let them go, especially Katrina. Abbie couldn't replace his family. She wouldn't try to do it either.

"Still in deep thought, Leftenant? We've been standing here for ten minutes in silence. I'm sure there's much more to be seen."

"Oh, I didn't realize we've been in this same spot that long." Abbie began to walk away.

"Something the matter?"

She sighed. It was now or never. She turned to face him. They were in front of the sea horses.

"We need to talk. Let's find somewhere to sit."

He nodded his head. "My ears are open."

They found a nook. It was a theater-like area with a bench for two people. There wasn't a screen in the small room, just a window opening up into another larger tank. All kinds of fish swam by. They were hidden behind a black curtain, so they had some privacy. Abbie sat facing Crane, with her legs on each side of the bench. Crane sat the same way. She grabbed his hand.

"Are you alright, Miss Mills?"

"I've been thinking."

"What's on your mind?"

She took a deep breath and dug the tip of her boot into the carpet. "You."

He didn't say anything. She looked away from him and pushed her hair out of her face.

"I was thinking about you. That thing you told me the other night. You said I was your heart's desire."

"I still mean every word."

"I believe you. But if we're going to cross that line, we have talk. I have some questions."

"What concerns you?"

Before Abbie could begin, her phone rang. She answered it.

"Did you tell him yet? Are you and Ichy official?"

"Hi, Jenny." Abbie rolled her eyes. Her sister sure was good with timing.

"Hi. So, how'd it go? Are you and Ichy official?"

"No. I was in the middle of talking to him."

"You know, you really shouldn't call people while they're in the process of a very important conversation. Don't you know that, Abbie?"

"Funny you should mention it."

"I guess I'll leave you to it then. Best of luck, Abbs. Tell Ichy hi."

"Thanks, and I will. Talk later?"

"Yeah. I want to hear all the details. Don't leave anything out, especially if he kisses you."

"We probably won't get that far, Jenny."

"Do you think he uses tongue?"

"I'm hanging up now. Bye." Abbie hung up the phone and shook her head at her sister.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes. Just Jenny being Jenny."

"Did you still want to talk?"

She nodded her head. "You have feelings for me. I know that. I may feel the same way."

"You know I would never force you. If my feelings are unrequited─"

"They're not." Abbie sighed.

"This is hard for you." He took her hand this time.

"It is."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"I want to."

"Please, proceed, Miss Mills. You have my undivided attention."

"I care for you. I care for you alot. And I'm very flattered by what you said. It was sweet."

"But?" He glanced down.

She lifted his chin. "I want to see where this goes, Crane, but we can't do that if Katrina is still on your mind. You still miss her. I know that. That's fine. I want you to heal from this first before we can become something more. Do you understand?"

"I do. I appreciate your honesty. Can I be honest with you?"

She nodded her head.

"I am still grieving my wife and son, but it's not for the reasons you think."

Abbie lowered her eyebrows.

"I do miss my family, but I was grieving for the life I could've acquired with them before I was put to sleep. I won't ever know what that would be like. I won't ever be able to experience Katrina and Henry in the way that I wanted to in my past life. More so than anything, I'm angry with myself, Leftenant. I was a fool to believe in happy endings. I wanted the best of both worlds: to do my duty as a Witness and have my family by my side. However, that wasn't possible. It was never possible from the moment we found out Henry's true identity. From the start, I should've known that Katrina would follow Henry. That was her duty.

"I should've listened to you, but I was blinded by my own desires. I let Katrina get in the way of our bond. I'm still letting her enter our lives as we speak. That is not my intention, Abbie. I am deeply sorry, especially since I've disregarded and ignored you at times to put Katrina and Henry above our responsibilities as Witnesses."

Abbie wasn't expecting him to apologize to her. She accepted it and appreciated it. There was a time or two when she felt forgotten by Crane when it came to Katrina. She was his weakness.

"Thank you."

"You deserve it. You're my partner. I would be ashamed of myself to continue to treat you in the way that I have."

"I know you're trying. You've been sitting with me, which is good. You can't live in the past though, Crane. We all have regrets, things we'd do differently, but all we can do is move forward as hard as it may be. You have to continue to try. You did the best you could with Katrina and Henry. They knew what they were up against. I don't have any regrets. I do wish that I could've spared you from all this heartache somehow." She pushed her fingers through his hair; then she rested her hand against his cheek. He held it there.

"There was nothing you could have done to spare me. It would've caught up with me one way or the other. It was inevitable. And, no, I don't regret killing Katrina. As I said that night, we all had a choice. I had complete control and knowledge of my actions. In addition, I couldn't possibly let her kill you." He paused. "No, I do not have any regrets, Leftenant."

"Thank you for your honesty."

He nodded. "Is there anything else you'd want to discuss?"

"Two more questions."

"Proceed as you wish, please."

"It's one thing to grieve her. It's a whole other thing to still be in love with her. Are you still in love with Katrina?" She removed her hand from his face.

"I was in love with the idea of the old Katrina, the one in my past life that saved me. I was still in love with that Katrina when we released her from Purgatory, even when she stayed with the horseman and lied to me multiple times. I wanted what we had before. I wanted to believe that she was the same. I will always love her. However, no, I am no longer in love with Katrina."

"Will you compare me to her, the old Katrina, the one that you first fell in love with, if we were to start dating?"

"Never. I admire you for you, Abbie. You're enough as you are."

"Questions answered. Thank you, Ichabod."

"It's the least I could do, Miss Mills."

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"I only have one."

"Ask me."

"Now that you've asked everything, would you like to embark on a courtship with me?"

"If that's your way of asking me to date you, then, yes, I would." She smiled at him.

He stood up and held out his hand to her. Abbie took it. She felt his lips on her hand.

"Always the gentleman."

"Is it my pleasure to become your beau."

"You can say 'boyfriend,' Crane."

"The names which your generation has created for love interests." He entwined their fingers.

"So we're official?"

"If by official you mean you mean boyfriend and girlfriend, then I would─"

"Just say 'yes,' Crane."

"Yes, Leftenant." He smirked at her.

She wanted to lean up to kiss him on his cheek, but her phone rang again. She figured it was her sister.

"Are you guys together?"

"You should really learn to say 'hello.' Manners, Jenny."

"Again, you should know me better than that, Abbie."

"Right. The answer is yes."

"You and Ichy are official? Finally. I'm happy for you two."

"Thanks, Jenny."

"Did you two kiss?" Abbie glanced at Crane, then looked away.

"Jenny."

"You can tell me if he used tongue, Abbie. He seems like he would be a good kisser."

Abbie blushed. "I'll see you later."

"Details." She hung up.

"Is everything okay, Leftenant? If I recall, I believe I saw you blushing a moment ago."

She pushed her hair behind her ear, looked at the ground. "Jenny says hi."

"Send her my regards."

Abbie was beginning to walk away, but Crane stopped her. He grabbed both of her hands.

"What's wrong?"

He placed a finger on her cheek and stepped closer towards her. She wasn't expecting for Crane to kiss her so soon.

"What is it?"

"You're exquisite when you blush. I hope I get the pleasure of observing it more often."

He leaned in even closer. His breathe was on her check. Soft lips met the corner of her mouth. He really had game. When he removed his lips, Crane gave her space. He held her hand with a smile on his face.

"Shall we visit the sting rays and octopuses?"

"Sure," she said. She let him led them.

Abbie wondered what it would be like to really feel his lips. She touched the spot where Crane kissed her. Maybe he would use tongue after all. I hope to find out, she thought as she and Crane walked to another section of the aquarium.