Another story. Icabbie's first date. It's a continuation from the AU I wrote where they met on the train. Hope you like it. I'm actually supposed to be in bed right now. I have to wake up for school, but I wanted to write this for you guys and for myself. I really hope you like it. Lol. The poem in this story doesn't belong to me. It's written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The title of it is "Sonnet 43." Also, I did some research about Greek mythology. I searched the story about Orpheus and Eurydice. Let me know if some of the details are wrong, and I'll correct it. Thank you. :)

"You picked an interesting establishment for our first date, Leftenant." Crane said as he and Abbie spread the blanket out together.

They both agreed on a picnic, and Crane let Abbie select the place to have it.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much so. It was a nice idea."

They both sat down on the blanket in the middle of the aisle. Book shelves were on either side of them; Crane opened the basket and took out two ham sandwiches, two bottles of lemonade, and barbeque chips. He left the doughnuts holes in the bag for last. He sat Abbie's food in front of her.

"I'm glad you think so. The bookstore owner said she wanted to do me a favor. I stopped this guy from trying to rob her one night as she was closing the place. I wasn't even on duty then. I was in here just because I was bored. She's nice enough to let me use her place for our date. It's supposed to be closed at nine; it's ten." Abbie unwrapped her sandwich and bit into it.

She was glad Crane agreed to meet her at the bookstore after her shift ended at eight tonight and relieved that the owner didn't object to her idea. It was last minute.

"That was very kind of you to save her. It was also very nice of her to offer you to utilize this place. I love the libraries and bookstores." He bit his sandwich, too.

She swallowed what she was chewing. "Me, too. It's so quiet. Gives you a place to think."

"It does. And, of course," he said as he chewed, "to read."

"Always that." She ate a chip. "What do you like to read?"

Abbie wanted to know more about him. Since bumping into each other in the coffee shop five days ago, they talked and texted about their daily lives. He even began to call her "Leftenant." Abbie also found out more about his son, and she told him more about her sister. They talked more about their careers, their hopes for the future, even their lost loved ones. But Abbie wanted to know more, as much as she could.

"I like to read about everything, but I enjoy Greek stories and poetry the most." He sipped his lemonade. "Do you like to read?"

"I like it, but it's not my favorite thing to do. I can never keep my eyes open, even if the book is really good. I guess it's because I'm sitting and not doing anything. I like to be active."

"I understand. It can be difficult sitting for a long period of time while staring at words. My students often complain about reading. However, perhaps you could give it another try. You may be more interested in short stories than novels."

"That's possible, but I'll probably just fall asleep again." Abbie chuckled. "I'll try it though. You can give me some recommendations. What's your favorite Greek story?"

"I most definitely will. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one that I like to reread. It's quite tragic though. Would you like to hear it?"

Abbie nodded her head as she ate more of her food.

Crane put his sandwich down. "Orpheus and Eurydice were deeply in love with each other. One day though, Eurydice was bitten by a wretched snake. Of course, Orpheus was devastated when he lost his wife. He loved her so much, though, that he went to the Underworld to save her. He played music for Hades, and he became quite emotional from Orpheus' music. This was enough to let him take his wife back. However, he told Orpheus that he shouldn't look back or else his love wouldn't be reunited with him. As the two ran, Orpheus couldn't tell if his wife was behind him; he could hardly hear her running. In end, he looked back, and Eurydice returned to the Underworld."

"That is tragic. I'm sure he was kicking himself afterwards." Abbie finished the rest of her sandwich. "What do you like most about this story?"

"He was willing to do anything for her. He loved her just that much that he would go into the Underworld to save her. It is tragic that doubt got the better of him. Sometimes it gets to the best of us." He ate some more of his sandwich.

"Do you have any doubt about anything right now?" She sipped some of her lemonade.

Crane played with his sandwich. "Unfortunately, I do. I wish I didn't."

Abbie stopped drinking her lemonade. "You can tell me if you want to. I'm here."

He sighed, put his food down. "It was about us. Of course, I'm intrigued by you. I don't believe it is in your nature to betray anyone. However, my past experience with Katrina has caused me to wonder about any woman I decide to become involved with. I sincerely hope I am not offending you with this confession. That is not my intention, Abbie."

She grabbed his hand. "I understand, Crane. She hurt you, abused your trust. You have every right to protect yourself from getting hurt, but I do want you to know that you can trust me. I won't hurt you."

"I believe you. Thank you." He squeezed her hand. "I hope you can trust me, too."

"I feel like I can."

"You don't have any doubts or fears about me?" Crane finished his sandwich.

"What if I loss you? What if something happens, and we stop talking? I lost both my parents; I almost lost my sister. I don't know if I can handle someone else leaving me."

He kissed her hand. "I'll be here, Abbie. You have me word."

She nodded her head, let go of his hand. They didn't say anything else and finished the rest of their food.

Crane took out the doughnut holes and put all of their trash in the basket.

"I'm too full for desert right now."

Crane smiled at her. "We can eat them later, then. Would you like to dance while your food digests?"

"There's no music, Crane."

He stood up and held out his hand for her. "All the better. Sometimes silence is the best music."

She laughed at him, took his hand.

Crane placed the basket on a part of a shelf where there were no books. He put his hands around her waist. Abbie laid her head on his chest; she let her hands rest on his arms. She closed her eyes as they swayed. She was enjoying herself. She liked that they were able to be honest with each other. She wanted it to continue.

"Do you still think you need music?"

"This way is better."

He chuckled. "I'm glad you think so."

"Did you ever dance like this with Katrina?" She probably shouldn't have asked that, but she was curious. She wasn't trying to make this date all about Crane's ex-wife, but how could she cheat on him?

"She hated to dance. We only danced once, and it was on our wedding day."

Abbie stared up at him. "What did you do when you went to other weddings or during your anniversary?"

"We would stay seated at other weddings. I wouldn't dance with another woman out of respect for her. We didn't dance at all during our anniversary. We weren't married for a long time. It was only three years."

"She missed out. This is peaceful." She laid her head on his chest again and closed her eyes.

He tightened his arms around her and closed his eyes, too.

"We should stop dancing now," Abbie said. She didn't open her eyes yet.

"Are you getting tired?"

It's been about thirty minutes.

"Not tired, but I am tempted to fall asleep. This is too comfortable." She opened her eyes.

Crane put some distance between them, but didn't let her go yet. "I rather enjoy holding you."

Abbie smiled at him. "You're very sweet, but we have to stop. I can't fall asleep on our date, Crane."

"I'd just watch you sleep if you were to doze off. I wouldn't mind at all. I would like observing you at ease without any worries."

Abbie shook her head and let him go. "The stuff you say sometimes."

"Does it offend you?" He lowered his eyebrows. "I don't mean to offend you."

Abbie sat on the floor and patted her knee; he sat down, too. "Not at all. You're very kind. I've never meant anyone this genuine."

"You deserve kindness, Abbie."

"Thank you." She would never get tired of his sincerity.

He took the basket off the shelf and opened it. "Would you like some desert now?"

"It'll probably wake me up."

Crane took the bag out and opened it, held it out for her. She took one out and bit it, then fed him the other piece.

"These are good." She grabbed another one from the bag. She didn't share this one.

"I made them." He ate of his own.

"You like to cook?"

"Yes. I make certain items, like the doughnut holes, and I made the ham from the sandwiches."

Abbie nodded her head. "What made you start?"

"It is because of my mom. She made the best recipes—some of them being ham and doughnut holes. She loved to cook. I guess I cook because it reminds me that she's still here with me."

"She is, Crane." Abbie took his hand.

"So is your mom. Did she ever cook for you and your sister?"

"Not really, but she did make the best red velvet cake. It was homemade. Sometimes she would frost it with chocolate icing instead of cream cheese. I learned to make it by watching her. Jenny and I make it for each other's birthday."

"If you wouldn't mind, I would very much love for you to make one for me." He fed her.

She nodded her head as she chewed; she reached into the bag for another and fed him again. They kept doing this until there was one more left. Abbie bit half of it first, then let Crane have the rest. She gave him a quick kiss as he chewed. He smiled at her, then kissed her lips when he was done.

"Thanks for dessert, Crane. It was wonderful." She stood up. "I would like to dance again."

He put the trash in the basket again and sat it on the shelf. As he wrapped his arms around her, he said, "I beg to differ. I believe it was your lips that were wonderful. That was truly the dessert."

Abbie grabbed his collar and kissed him again; it was a little longer. His tongue tasted like glaze, and Abbie sighed as she felt her back against the book shelf. Crane's hands were under her shirt. She pushed her hands through his hair, bit his bottom lip. Crane wanted to get closer to her. He wanted to grab her legs to put them on his waist, but he removed his hands from under her shirt and put some distance between them instead.

"As much as I would love to continue, I can't. Although I find myself physically attracted to you, I respect you too much to cheapen our date in this manner. I hope you're don't find that disappointing or old-fashioned."

"I get it. I am physically attracted to you, too. After we spend more time together, we can discuss it. No worries." She kissed him again and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Shall we continue dancing?"

"Yes." He smiled at her.

She laid her head on his chest again and closed her eyes. "I would ask you to read to me after we dance, but there aren't any Greek mythologies in this bookstore."

"I could recite you a poem. I know one by heart. My father used to say it to my mother."

"I'm listening. Just don't let me go to sleep."

Crane smiled. "'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways./ I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/ My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight/ For the ends of being and ideal grace…'"

He glanced down at Abbie. She was asleep this time; her snore was light. Crane held her until she woke up.

Abbie quickly lifted her head.

"What's wrong?"

She stared at him. "I told you not to let me fall asleep. How long has it been?"

"I don't know. It's probably been about five or ten minutes."

"Okay." Abbie rubbed her eyes. "That's not too bad."

"It could have been an hour."

"Crane." She poked his shoulder.

"I'm joking, Abbie. I honestly think it's been about twenty minutes."

"I'm sorry I went to sleep. That was a lovely poem. I didn't hear it all, but I did hear parts of it."

"I can repeat it to you."

She laughed. "You'd better not."

"How about the next time?"

"Next time. When I'm awake." Abbie let him go; she sighed. "It's probably about time for me to get some rest. I'm not much fun when I'm tired."

"As you wish." He picked up the basket. "Thank you for a lovely time, Abbie. We'll have to do it again."

She placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him again. "We will."