Dinosaurs in the Ballroom, Secrets: Simply Ballroom 3
By Pinkcat4569
Rating: K/G
Spoilers-series 4 and 5
Description: The ballroom is invaded again, but this time, the guests are not welcome. They aren't even human, after all. Sequel to Secrets: Simply Ballroom 1 and Secrets: Simply Ballroom 2.
Disclaimer: Primeval and its characters do not belong to me. This is solely for fun.
Author's Note: I've been re-editing my stories, and got to thinking that I never did write a follow up to the Ballroom stories. This is how I imagine it would be if the ballroom was swarmed with non-human guests. You should probably read the other two first, as I make references to them. Becker and Jess are a couple. This features some original characters.
Keep in mind that I'm not an expert, not on dancing or dinosaurs. Any information was taken from the internet and may not be 100 percent correct.
This is my first story in three months, so I hope I haven't gotten too rusty.
Words: 3, 865, broken into chapters.
Chapter One, Secrets: Simply Ballroom 3
Mrs. Fine filled the punch bowl and set out chips. She then went through the CDs, choosing the songs for the dances. She had acquired some new selections to go along with the new faces coming to the Ballroom Dancing nights. Mrs. Becker and her son had certainly breathed new life into the dance studio.
Mrs. Fine had to chuckle at the thought of the young Captain. He had been so stiff and stoic when he first arrived. He danced only with his mother, and spoke very little. He was obviously present under duress.
Then Miss Parker joined them, and the Captain changed. He was much more at ease, even charming. They even brought work colleagues along. He still danced primarily with one partner, but now it was Miss Parker. With her, he danced passionately.
"A little too passionately for my tastes," she muttered aloud. Yes, the dances those two did were….heated, especially the tango. One of these days they'd need cold water thrown on them. Perhaps she should stash a bucket near the dance floor, she thought with a chuckle.
She heard the door open, and recognized several voices: the elderly couple the Rogers, young Mr. Andrews, and Mr. Howard, a rather grumpy middle-age man.
"The Beckers are coming, right?" asked Mr. Rogers with a twinkle in his eye.
Mrs. Fine smirked. "As far as I know."
"I hope they bring Miss Parker," said Mr. Rogers, smiling widely.
"Why? You're no competition for the young Captain," teased his wife.
"No one is," said Mr. Andrews sadly. "The two of them remind me how single I am."
"I think they're cute," said Mrs. Rogers.
Mr. Andrews merely grunted in response.
Mrs. Fine laughed. "You are far too young to be discouraged. You'll find someone someday."
"Too bad Miss Parker is obviously taken," said Mr. Rogers with a laugh.
"Obviously," grumbled Mr. Andrews. "I don't think anyone will ever pry her from the Captain's arms either."
Mrs. Fine laughed. "I think you're right."
The sound of the door opening again was followed by more voices and laughter. The sweet joyful voice of Jess Parker floated above the rest.
Andrews and Mr. Rogers perked up, looking toward the entrance from the lobby to see the young woman enter. She was always bright and colorful, not to mention slightly sexy.
Instead they saw the imposing figure of Captain Becker, wearing an uncharacteristic smile. It was soon apparent why he was smiling as he drew in Miss Parker, her hand tightly entwined in his. He was staring at her, and grinning broadly.
"Hello," chirped Jess to the dancers.
"Good evening," said Mrs. Fine. "You look lovely, as always, Miss Parker."
"She does," agreed Becker.
Jess' cheeks blushed, matching her rosy pink, short dancing gown, plain except for a few rows of ruffles along the bottom of the dress. She wore her hair in a long, side braid, fastened with a green bow. Her slight kitten-heeled shoes were also green, a few shades darker then the lime green of her hair bow.
Becker wore a black tux with a white shirt. As if to make sure everyone knew who he was with, his tie and cummerbund matched the pink of Jess' gown.
"Are you two ready to dance?" asked Mr. Rogers.
"You bet!" cried Jess.
Becker chuckled at her enthusiasm. "If she is, than I guess I am too."
Mrs. Fine laughed. "Uh-huh," she said. She shook her head with amusement. "I don't think we'd see you dancing if Miss Parker weren't present."
"No, I don't think you would," said a new voice. Mrs. Becker walked in. She sighed. "I've definitely lost my dance partner." She winked at her son.
"I'll be happy to partner with you," said Mr. Andrews.
"Thank you, dear. You are a life saver," she said.
A few more bodies poured in. Mrs. Fine recognized the colleagues of the Captain and Miss Parker. Miss Abby Maitland walked in with her boyfriend, Connor Temple. They were both dressed in black, rather gothic outfits. Abby's dress was tight in the middle, sporting a corset, then black lace draped down vertically from the corset, down to her mid-calves.
Connor wore a simple black jacket, the lapels decorated with faux black fur. He paired it with a light gray shirt, and darker gray slacks that looked faded with age. He wore a shiny black top hat that didn't really go with the age of his outfit.
"Can we start with the sexy dances?" asked Connor.
Mrs. Fine rolled her eyes. "I've told you, Mr. Temple, they are not sexy."
Connor raised his eyebrows. "They look plenty sexy to me."
The others laughed.
Mrs. Fine sighed. "Alright. Yes, they are sensual, but to limit everything a samba or tango is to the word "sexy" is just wrong."
"She is a dance teacher, after all, Conn," said Abby.
He shrugged. "Can we start with a samba?"
Mrs. Fine had to laugh. "Why not?" She turned to her music selections, looking for samba music.
"Torturing our hostess, already?" asked an Irish brogue.
Mrs. Fine laughed and looked up to see the stylish figures of Matt Anderson and Emily Merchant. "Good evening," she said.
"Good evening," said Emily. "I do hope Connor is behaving."
"Hey!" cried a wounded Connor.
Matt chuckled. "You can be a handful," he said.
Connor pouted. "That's not true."
"Yes it is," said Becker. He had finished hanging up Jess' and his mum's coat, and reached out to take Emily's.
Jess giggled. "You look wonderful, Abby, Emily. "
"Thank you. You do as well," said Emily. She was dressed in a long silver gown, clinging to her hips, and then flaring out. Matt wore black trousers and a dark green striped shirt, along with a silver blazer.
Mrs. Fine smiled. "I approve of the jacket, Mr. Anderson." The last few times she had made it clear that she thought he was underdressed.
He chuckled. "I wore it just for you."
"Can we start the samba yet?" wined Connor.
"Easy," said Abby. "Sorry, Mrs. Fine."
"Don't apologize. I like eager dancers. We will wait just a few more minutes. Is your boss attending this evening?"
Jess tapped her shoe in annoyance. "I don't know. He's being a baby."
Becker laughed. "I don't know, Jess. If my wife blew that money on a gown, I think I'd be upset too."
The men all grunted in agreement.
"Yes, I agree Mrs. Lester shouldn't have spent so much, but it was her first ballroom gown, and she was excited. Plus, she has to live with the man! Give the poor woman some compensation!"
The ARC team all laughed. "Good point," said Matt.
Becker raised an eyebrow at Jess. "You've never spent thousands of pounds on a gown?"
"No! I'm stylish but frugal. I work for a living," said Jess.
Becker laughed. "I thought fashion was your living."
Abby laughed. "He's got you there, Jess."
"Becker's just worried about his financial future," said Connor. "He's seeing his closet full of pricey girl clothes."
Jess and Becker both blushed. Mrs. Becker playfully jabbed Connor in the ribs for them.
"Well, I guess we've waited long enough," said Mrs. Fine. Just then the sound of the door opening and a loud boisterous voice broke through the hall.
"I'm here, aren't I, darling? I refuse to put on a smile," said Lester's voice.
The dancers all giggled.
"Jess was right, you are being a baby," came Mrs. Lester's voice. She walked in to see the dancers all looking her way. "Good evening," she said.
They all greeted her and Lester as he came through from the lobby. He wasn't very talkative, however.
"How are you?" asked Jess.
Lester grunted.
"Fine, dear," she said. "Ignore Mr. Grumpy."
"I love your dress," said Jess.
Mrs. Lester wore an elegant purple, floor length gown that clung to her curves. She may not have been as young as Jess or Abby or Emily, but she was still an attractive woman.
"Thank you, Jess. I'm very grateful that you steered me to that discount store," said Mrs. Lester. "I've been placed on a budget. So, apparently is James. He refused to wear a tux this time."
Lester mumbled something about "thousands of pounds," and "out of your mind."
Mrs. Lester just smiled.
"He looks quite dashing," said Emily, complimenting Lester's simple, but well-tailored black suit. He made no attempt to match his wife as he had no purple on him.
"Nice to see you both," said Mrs. Fine. "Now, if we're all here, let's samba!"
"Yeah!" yelled Connor.
Saucy, up-beat music with a Latin rhythm played. Connor whooped, and began to sway his hips wildly. Abby shook her head, laughed, and took his hand.
Emily and Matt moved slightly slower to the music than the other couples. At least they were trying. Lester simply stood, waving his arms. His wife had given up, and was dancing alone.
Jess and Becker, as always, were the stars of the floor. Becker, huge smile on his face, spun Jess around him, as she shook her body in rhythm. She was smiling at him as well.
Mrs. Becker, in the arms of Mr. Andrews, couldn't help but watch her son and Jess. The lovely young woman was a gift from heaven, in his mother's eyes.
Mrs. Fine smiled, tapping her toes to the song, standing apart from the dancers, beside the music player. Then she frowned.
"What is that?" she asked. No one heard her over the music. She continued to stare at a yellow glow. Slowly it grew stronger, forming a ball.
Lester looked over. "Oh good Lord."
Becker was the next to notice. He cursed.
"Becker!" cried Jess.
"Really, dear," scolded Mrs. Becker. "Not appropriate language for the ballroom!"
Becker ignored his mother. He whispered to Jess, "We have an anomaly."
She turned in the direction he was staring. She cursed too.
Mrs. Becker looked also. "What is that?"
The glow grew more intense, and soon everyone was staring.
"Oh, no," said Abby softly.
Matt cursed. "Can't we have one bloody night?"
End of Chapter One