After their late night talk, things had relatively gone back to normal. The awkward moment had (at least for the time being) been forgotten.
Abbie woke to the smell of eggs and the sound of bacon sizzling. She breathed it in deeply as she tried to remember the last time she'd been awoken so pleasantly. And then she realizes it's Crane. In her kitchen.
Abbie gets out of the bed in a flash, slips her pants on, and almost sprints through the hallway. But when she hears the sound of Ichabod humming rather than clattering and curses she slows her stride. She steps into the kitchen, eyes first landing on her table. She doesn't know what to look at first.
The table is littered with plates filled to the brim, there's pancakes, hashbrowns, biscuits, gravy, the works. And in the center of it all stands a thin vase filled with as many wildflowers as it can hold.
Abbie doesn't realize that she's gaping like a fish out of water until Ichabod says her name.
"Good morning, Leftenant." Her mouth snaps closed.
"Morning Crane, whats with all this?" She asks as she turns her head to face him.
His tall frame is bent awkwardly over the counter as he chops quickly at some cilantro. She observes the careful, quick movement of his hands and inwardly wonders how he makes his movements so elegant. He pauses and wipes his hand on a towel on the counter.
"I thought we could use a nice morning meal. It is Sunday, and as Sunday was considered a day of leisure in my time, I thought we might start it off right." He grins at her, but a sliver of doubt looms behind his eyes.
"I think it's great." Abbie smiles at him. "Who woulda thought I'd have my own in-house chef?" She says as she nudges his arm. The stiffness in his shoulders relaxes.
"Yes, well I must say, I charge for my services." Crane smirked at her.
Abbie eyebrows raise and she crosses her arms of her chest saucily. "Oh yeah? And what are your terms?"
Ichabod is full on grinning now. He bends and whispers in mock-seriousness, "I do believe I will require some ice cream." He straightens, and Abbie catches the glimmer of hope on his face.
She shakes her head in disbelief. "You and sweets," she chastises laughingly. He raises an eyebrow, still waiting on an amswer. "All right, Crane we can get some ice cream later," Abbie laughs in exasperation, "But first, let's eat."
He steps aside, allowing he to reach the table, and spreads his arm out, a signal for her to proceed. "By all means, Leftenant, eat away."
She squints at him. "I certainly hope you don't expect me to eat all this by myself."
"Leftenant I prepared it for you."
"Imma stop you right there, Crane. Do I look like i could eat all of this myself?" She asks, as she gestures towards her small form.
He nods in agreement. "You're right Miss Mills, you are far too small to consume this much food. I shall redo the portions."
She sits back in her chair at the table and lets him do his work. When he is finished, a small plate of eggs sits in front of her, the rest in front of Crane.
She looks at him accusingly, but her words halt at the sight of his gigantic grin. Her eyes narrow mischievously. "Oh no, Crane, you don't get all the good stuff."
He smiles impishly. "But Leftenant, you are too small to eat such food. Your eggs will do nicely." He fights heroically to hold in his laughter.
She stands, fork in hand, and jabs a large hunk of pancake onto her fork. She looks at him challengingly. "Whatcha gonna do about it 'Captain'?" She mocks.
He stands. "This." And then he is tickling her. A gasp voices her surprise, and she releases her fork so she doesn't hurt him as she attempts to resist. He laughs as he tickles her.
"Alright," she gasps, "Alright Crane, I give." She puts her hands on her knees as she tries to recover lost oxygen.
He smiles pretentiously. "I thought so Miss Mills. It is ever so rude to deny one's gift," he chastises playfully,"Especially a gift as great as mine," he winks. "Besides, you always mention the wonderful convenience of your 'leftovers'." The last word he says in a poor attempt at her voice.
She actually sticks her tongue out at him. He tries to ignore the stir in his stomach from the sight of such pretty pink poking between her beautiful brown lips.
"Just eat some. You know you want to. You're always hungry." She smiles knowingly at him.
He finally concedes. "As you wish, Leftenant."
She smiles, and the two sit down and enjoy both the food and each other's company.