One Year Later

"Come on, Crane!"

"I would be matching your pace more easily if you did not insist I wear this enormous 'back pack.' What do you have in here?"

"You'll see. Now come on! It's getting dark! We're gonna miss it!"

It was the Fourth of July. Independence Day. Abbie had somehow convinced Ichabod to accompany her on a hike near where Corbin's cabin had stood. She even convinced him to leave his coat at her house. It was the middle of summer, after all.

"Here! Here it is!"

Crane didn't know where she was taking him but he enjoyed being with her no matter where they were. That's why he was really in no huge hurry to find his own place and move out of Abbie's guest room. However it had been over a year since he 'temporarily' moved in with her, so he forced himself to actively look for something. He had paid his first month's rent and security deposit on a small apartment and was supposed to move within the next week.

He met Abbie the top of the hill and saw a clearing. Abbie had an absolutely giddy smile on her face.

Crane was perplexed. "It's a field."

"Now it's a field. But in about ten minutes...well, you'll see."

"May I remove this dreadful knapsack from my shoulders now?"

"Oh! Yeah, sorry. Here, let me help."

Abbie put the backpack on the ground and unzipped it. She removed a large blanket and laid it out on the grass. She took out a bottle of wine, plastic cups, small paper plates and plastic sandwich bags containing fruit, cheese and crackers.

"A picnic? In the dark?" Crane thought the whole thing was strange, but kind of adorable.

"Sit," Abbie instructed as she poured some wine for him.

They sat on the blanket with their legs crossed, having their snacks.

"So are you going to tell me what..." BOOM!

Ichabod instinctively lunged at Abbie and shielded her body with his. "Stay down, Lieutenant!"

"Crane! It's OK! It's fireworks!" She pointed above them. "It's why I brought you here."

He lifted his head and saw the brilliant colors lighting up the still-darkening sky.

"Fireworks..." He sat up, his hand still braced on the ground on the other side of her waist.

"Yeah. Remember last year we heard them from the archive room but we were too busy trying to figure out how to beat our demon-of-the-week to go and look?"

"Yes," he softly said as he continued to look at the display.

"Here, lie down next to me," Abbie offered, patting the blanket. "It's the best way to see them."

Ichabod slunk down onto the blanket next to her and she took his hand. It was a thing she did. It happened once by accident a few months ago when they both reached for the remote control at the same time. Ever since that night, she just started taking his hand in hers whenever the mood struck her. He loved how comfortable she was with him and enjoyed the way their hands fit together.

"Corbin brought me up here a few years ago. He told me it was the best place to see the display the town puts on. He was not wrong." She rubbed Crane's hand lightly as she spoke. "I just thought maybe it would mean something to you, you know? To see how every July fourth, even hundreds of years later, we give thanks for our freedom and celebrate the lives of those who fought for it."

Ichabod leaned up on his forearm and faced her. "Abbie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome Crane."

He continued to look at her.

She smiled and said, "You're missing the fireworks."

"I can see them reflected in your eyes. I think I prefer that."

"What?"

Ichabod could not fight the overwhelming urge he had to kiss her. This was not a timid 'I hope this is OK with you' kiss. It was a full-on, hand in her hair, open-mouth 'I have waited a long time for this and I do not wish to wait any longer' kiss. Strong yet soft. Deep but gentle. One kiss lead to two, which lead to five. Ichabod smiled as she responded in kind to his sudden display of affection. He backed away for a moment to see Abbie was smiling as well.

"Crane, what were you thinking?!"

His brow furrowed.

"What were you thinking waiting so long to do that?" She put her hand on his cheek and leaned up for another kiss, and another.

He treasured every morsel of her long-overdue affection. "I love you, Abbie. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Ichabod."

"I don't wish to move out."

"Oh, you are absolutely moving out of my guest room."

"I am?"

"Into my room."

"Oh." He thought for a moment. "Oh!" He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.

They laughed and kissed some more as the colorful explosions lit up the night sky.

"I guess this means I have a date to Frank and Julie's wedding?" Abbie asked.

"It would certainly seem that way." Ichabod smiled. "Now please, if you don't mind. I have waited a long time for this. Less talking. More kissing."

xxxxxx

(Thank you to everyone who came on this ride with me. I hope you enjoyed reading my first fic as much as I enjoyed writing it. There will likely be a follow-up to this last scene, which I believe will be a one-shot. And beyond that, who knows! Thanks again! -SF)