She heard the words come out of his mouth and found herself rising up from her chair, excusing herself to the bathroom abruptly.
Never in a million years did Abbie imagine this happening tonight. And yet here she was, in the bathroom stall trying to keep from hyperventilating from his admission.
She was embarrassed by her reaction. And couldn't bear to think what Crane was feeling at the current moment. But she also knew she needed time to process this. She had felt so comfortable with things the past few weeks. And now here, tonight, he tells her of plans in which she hadn't allowed herself to even consider a possibility.
She went back out to the sink, throwing cold water on her face and staring up into the mirror.
Get yourself together, Abbie.
She exited the restroom only to find their table empty, him waiting at the front lobby with the car keys in hand.
"I took your long absence from the table to mean you are ready to leave." He said somberly, as she stared into his rejected eyes. "Was I mistaken?"
"Crane… I'm sorry." She said as he cut her off.
"You needn't apologize, Leftenant. It is I who committed the folly this evening. Not you."
They drove back to the house in silence. Each partner muddled in their own thoughts and disappointments about the events of the evening.
It wasn't until they both were in the kitchen that Crane spoke again.
"There are moments where I feel adrift in this modern time. Nothing at all to remind me of the life I am used to." He said almost in a whisper. "I am sorry. For scaring you tonight with my rushed thoughts and hasty dreams."
He stopped speaking and looked over at her, his eyes warm. "It's just… Abbie when I am with you, I feel I am home."
He nodded towards her slightly, turning around to leave her in the kitchen with her thoughts.
…..
Two hours later and she still lay awake on her bed. Her mind on Crane and his words.
She closed her eyes and digested them slowly, replaying the hurt on his face as he told her of his intentions only to have her run away scared.
She silently cursed herself still for her reaction earlier. Here was this man, who had come into her life at exactly the point in which she needed him. Someone who had given her purpose. A reason for being.
A companion to walk this difficult path with…
A tear fell from her eye as she slowly got up out of bed, opening her door softly and making her way down the hall to his room.
She didn't hesitate when she got to his door. Instead, knocking softly as she opened it slowly.
She saw him laying down in the bed, his eyes confused as he watched her enter his room and make her way over to the side of his bed.
He sat up slowly, not quite sure why she was there and if she was okay. But looked into her glassy eyes and realized he already knew what she was asking… what she wanted.
He folded the covers down, inviting her into his bed and scooting over as she gently laid down and placed her head on one of his pillows.
Crane folded the covers back over her body and laid down on the opposite side, staring into her eyes and silently begging her to make him understand what she was feeling.
He heard her breathe in deeply as she whispered. "You are my home too, Crane."
She paused. "I couldn't let you go thru the night not knowing that."
He watched as she turned her body around and slowly backed herself closer to him. Her cotton pajamas pressing up against his chest.
His body froze momentarily as he felt her relax into him. And taking her lead, he wrapped his left arm around her as she cradled against him tighter, his nose breathing in the sweet smell of her hair.
Crane had never done this. Never spent the night with a woman who was not his wife in this manner.
But nothing had ever felt more perfect. More right.
They laid like that for what seemed like eternity, their breaths moving more in harmony with each passing minute.
And when he awakened before dawn the next morning, his body still molded to hers, he smiled and chuckled softly to himself. Having had one of the best nights of sleep since his arrival in Sleepy Hollow almost three years ago.
She stirred and moved underneath of him, turning around to face him in the darkness.
"Good Morning, Leftenant", he said softly as a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Good Morning", she said in a whisper. "Although it still looks like we have a few more minutes before dawn."
He smiled softly, an idea popping into his head.
"Would you honor my request of getting dressed hastily and accompanying me somewhere?"
She looked at him curiously as she tried to imagine just where Crane planned on taking her at 5:30am in the morning. But she obliged, nodding her head slightly as they both, a bit nervously, got out of bed and got dressed.
Crane had insisted on driving the Mercedes since he had to give it back later that morning. And she silently thanked him, since their previous evening's adventure in it had ended quicker than expected.
It was only about 10 minutes after they left the house that Abbie recognized where he was taking her. They had entered West Chester State Park, driving up Foot Mountain Hill to a trail Abbie had never been to before. He parked the car, pausing to look at her before he asked if she would allow him one more request and follow him for a brief walk in the woods. They walked in the dark, Crane clearing out the path in front of her thru brush and over a small creek until suddenly they came upon a clear landing on the edge of a hill.
Upon first sight, Abbie felt her breath catch in her throat. Below them was all of Sleepy Hollow… The pre-dawn darkness still upon them as the stars prepared to bid adieu to the morning sun. She looked over at him as he smiled at her reaction, walking over to sit on one of the two large rocks near the cliff's edge.
"I found this place one night a couple months ago. I drove up here to collect my thoughts, the night after you had gotten shot, and walked upon it accidentally."
He looked over at her as she came to sit beside him, still listening intently while admiring the view in front of them.
"I told myself that evening that if you were to recover, there would not be one day where I took your friendship for granted." He said as he paused. "I hope I have lived up to that promise since. And will continue to do so each day that I breathe."
Abbie felt a tear fall from her eyes, the emotions of this moment too much to hold inside. Taking in the sights before her, the sun just starting to peak from the horizon as the lights from Sleepy Hollow residents gave notice of the day beginning anew.
She reached over and grasped his hand softly, turning to face him as he looked upon her tear riddled eyes.
She parted her lips softly, still characteristically guarded, but compelling herself to truly open up to the man sitting beside her.
"I love you." She said softly, as his eyes stared into hers, allowing her words to fully penetrate his soul.
She did not cower from his gaze. "I am in love with you, Ichabod Crane."
He swallowed the lump in his throat as he gazed at her, reaching out cautiously to stroke her cheek. His touch was hesitant, almost as if he didn't believe her to be real. "To the depths of my soul, you can not imagine how long I have wished to hear those words from your lips."
He leaned in, kissing her slowly, purposely. And Abbie felt, in this moment, how right this was. With him.
When he pulled away, she smiled, opening her eyes to gaze upon him once more. "I've missed your kiss…" She said as she drew a finger, grazing over his mouth.
"And I yours, Leftenant." He said as he leaned in, taking her lips within his once again. She smiled against his kiss, running her fingers thru his hair. A few moments later she felt him pull back.
"Do my previous sentiments still frighten you?" He said softly, continuing to brush her cheek with his thumb.
She knew what he was referring to. His thoughts on love, courtship, marriage still had not changed. And she knew this. Expected it. He came from a different time than herself. And to him, professing their love… their commitment to one another was a precursor to a certain future.
"No…." she said hesitantly. "Well, yes." She chuckled.
He smiled. "We can take things as slow as you want them, Leftenant. I am a captive to your wishes."
She smiled softly as her eyes grew dark. "What if I don't want to go slow?"
She saw the surprise in his eyes as he looked across from her. His reaction letting her know he understood the full meaning of her question without needing a declaration.
He dropped his hand slowly, backing his face away from hers. "You seem to think at times that because I come from another day and age that I am not still yet a red blooded man. You can not say these things to me so flippantly, Leftenant, and expect an honorable reaction."
She cocked her head to the side, still staring into him as he digested her statement. Her eyes drifted down, suddenly weary of her suggestion being something he was not ready for. When she looked back up at him, his face had grown more serious.
"You have put thought into this?" He asked. "Of what it will mean for us?"
She nodded slightly, swallowing the lump in her throat, as they sat on the rocks inches apart. The air between them charged.
"I don't want to rush you… I know it has been some time since…" She stopped suddenly. But she knew he had already guessed where her next train of thought was going. It had been almost a year since Katrina had died. And she wasn't sure if he was truly ready to be with another woman in the same way.
He furrowed his brow as he looked at her, shaking his head softly. "It has been centuries…" He said almost in a whisper, as her face scrunched up in disbelief.
He hadn't slept with Katrina.
All this time Abbie had assumed when they were living in Corbin's cabin they had consummated their marriage in this current century. But they hadn't…
She looked at him, shock and surprise on her face. Questions overflowing from her thoughts as his face remained still, his eyes never leaving hers.
He opened his mouth in hesitation. Closing it again as fear overtook his desire for complete honesty. But he wanted to be. Needed to be…
"I believe, Leftenant…" he said delicately. "That somewhere deep down… I was waiting for you."
Silence clung to his words after they were long gone. And Abbie felt herself closing her eyes and dropping her head at the enormity of what was in front of her. And when she opened her eyes again, his were still staring into her soul.
"And I do not wish to wait any longer." He said firmly. No doubt in his voice.
She watched as he rose up onto his feet. Reaching out for her hand as he led her back through the woods into the car.
Headed home.