I did a thing. I saw fans talking about Crane's astral form and not being able to hug Abbie because of it. I decided to write it. I don't think anyone has yet. I don't know how the actual scene will go, but here's my take. This chess game is so inaccurate by the way. Lol I don't play chess at didn't feel angsty enough for me, but I hope you like it. :)

A chess board with red and white pieces sat on a boulder. In her tattered clothes, she crawled over to it. She wanted it, and it appeared. The Underworld was funny like that. Made things appear. She couldn't get the actual Crane, but chess was close enough. A memory would do. She beat him last time.

She moved a piece on her side. "Your turn, Crane."

She shifted a knight for him.

"Nice." She lifted another one of her knights. "I'm better though."

He'd say something smug; she relocated his rook. She slide her piece and then his. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Her last move. She formed a small smile, remembering the way his fingers wiggled and his eyebrows sunk down toward his eyes.

"Checkmate," she said.

Her smile left. He wasn't in front of her. Just the cave wall. She didn't know really. Nothing looked as it was. She felt like Alice, falling down the rabbit hole and seeing all kinds of strange creatures and people. "Curiouser and curiouser" as she said. Curiouser indeed.

Abbie stared at the space in front of her. Stared and stared and breathed and breathed until it was heavy. Her hands bunched her curly hair; she shut her eyes. Then she scrambled the pieces and chess board itself everywhere. It hit the ground.

Damn him.

She missed him too much. Even a little more than Jenny and Joe. She's needed to get out of here; she needed her sister and Joe. Him. Crane. Standing up, she paced, paced, and paced with her hands on her hips or her hands in her hair. All she could do was breath and speak to the floor and vines. She said his words.

"Have faith, Leftenant. All we really get is one another." She bit her lip. The tears came. "I choose to forge my fate with you."

What did Henry tell them? To cling to each other? Hold on to their connection because it was the key to surviving? She'd hold on to something. Had to. For her sake and his.

"Leftenant? Abbie?"

His voice sounded real, too real from behind her. She chuckled. Losing it, she was. Of course, she'd talk back though.

"You're in my head, Crane."

"Abbie, I assure you I am not. Turn around."

She did, and there he was. She ran.

His hands quickly outstretched as he said, "Leftenant. Don't. I'm not in my real form. I am a projection, a hologram as you call it."

She almost didn't stop herself. When she did, she stood as close to him as possible. Right there. He was literally right there. Centimeters. Whatever was smaller than centimeters. That's how close she was. His breath swept down her face toward her collar bone. He smelled like leaves and books. Like Crane. Her Crane. Why couldn't she touch him? The one thing she wanted most and she couldn't have it. Skin on skin, his hands rubbing up and down her back, her name in her ear, her head in the corner of his neck, her hands scrambling down his chest. His lips that she'd hope to taste because it was the only thing that could soothe the crazy in her. But it couldn't happen. She couldn't have him like she wanted.

Her fingers splayed out beside her; she shut her eyes. "Ichabod."

She never knew herself to be so weak. The amount of control she had to have. He was so close. It drove her mad. She itched where she couldn't scratch. Just kept itching and itching for him that it began to hurt. All she could do was stare into him.

"You don't know how desperately I wish to touch you, too, Abbie." His fingers twitched.

She almost chocked on his breath that hit her forehead and lips. "I need you."

She thought she saw his eyes brighten with tears. He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't.

"We can't, Abbie."

"What will happen?"

"Then I will be no more. I will disappear within a minute. This spell doesn't allow me the luxury of physical contact for long."

A small whimper came from her. "Crane."

"Abbie. Please."

She bit her lip. His smell and voice was more than she could take. The way he said her name. Would she really risk it? Could she risk it? Not just yet.

"Help me, Crane. I don't know how to get out. You used something before that let us make contact. It kind of worked. Try that again. I'll try to find a way from here. Retrace my steps or something."

She wondered in all kinds of places. She walked and walked and ran into things she didn't want to see again. The Underworld did her no favors. Now, here she was. A mess and suffering from more PTSD and whatever else.

"You will not remain in here any longer, Grace Abigail Mills. If could pull you through, I would in a heartbeat."

She nodded. "Can I feel it? Your heartbeat?"

She almost thought she could hear it. Almost.

He closed his eyes. "Abigail, I desire to entwine our souls, but—"

That was it. She jumped onto him with her legs squeezing his waist, so he wouldn't leave. He was solid for this short minute she kissed him. Her fingers dug into his hair while his found her backside. He moaned, their tongues wild and strong. Crane leaned her against the cave wall; she said his name while his lips scattered her neck.

"Time," he said.

She whimpered again when he nipped her neck, embracing as much of him before she couldn't anymore. He hurriedly kissed her once more before she finally unclenched her legs. Then she felt both her feet on the ground.

"I love you," she said.

She was left hugging herself.