Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

6.3 – Moving On

Abby and Connor were walking along the sidewalk, chatting and laughing together. As they reached the realtor's office, he opened the door and Abby stepped inside followed closely by Connor.

The receptionist smiled a greeting and motioned for them to sit. At that moment however, the door to the realtor's private office opened. She and another woman stepped into the main room.

Beside her, Abby felt Connor stiffen. Then, he moved to stand in front of her, stepping backwards on her toes.

"Ow! Connor," she said.

"Quietly Abby," he said in a strained voice.

She was forced to move further back into the lobby, as he continued to keep his body in between her and the main office. "What'cha doing Connor?"

"Connor," a strange female voice cried sharply in recognition.

Abby listened in puzzlement, that wasn't the realtor's voice she thought. Peeking her head around Connor's shoulders she looked in the direction of the voice. It was the brunette standing with their realtor she realized.

"Connor Temple," said the brunette, "I haven't seen you in ages." The woman's mouth opened, she licked her lips.

Abby's eyebrows went up in puzzlement. Who was this woman and how did she know Connor?

"Didn't feel the need," her fiancé responded stiffly, his words clipped short and bordering on a tone of rudeness.

As the woman stalked towards them, Abby felt the gentle push of Connor's body against hers. He was keeping himself between them she realized. She looked up at him, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were warily watching every step the brunette took. It was almost, Abby thought, like when Connor watched out for creatures when they were in the Cretaceous.

The woman stopped directly in front of Connor. Reaching upwards, she cupped the side of his face with her hand. "Miss me," she asked.

"No."

The woman's face twisted suddenly, her smile changing into a snarl for a brief moment. The long dark red fingernails dug in slightly as she moved her hand downward. Abby couldn't tell if the motion was meant to be a caress or if the woman was clawing Connor. Either way, she didn't like it.

"Oi," she said, stepping around Connor to face the woman directly

The woman looked at Abby in surprise. She started to say something, but the realtor reached her at that moment. Grasping the brunette firmly by the elbow, the older woman hustled her out the door, calling "And we'll let you know if we get any vacancies. I've got your number."

Shutting the door with a resounding thump, the realtor turned and came back into the building, brushing her hands one against the other.

"Now," she smiled warmly at the pair "let's get you those keys and have you sign the lease agreement."

Connor and Abby looked at each other in surprise. The realtor didn't have any vacancies? They had seen over twenty different flats last weekend, and a few more each day this week, until they found the home they wanted. With a shrug of shoulders, and a muttered hmmph, they followed the realtor back into the office.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Leaving the realtor's office, keys in hand, Connor was chatting excitedly, planning their move the next day. It wasn't until they turned the corner, headed towards Jess' flat that Abby spoke.

"Connor," she said quietly "who was that woman?"

Connor froze. He didn't say a word.

"Is she an old girlfriend perhaps," Abby continued. She really hadn't thought of Connor having girlfriends before… besides Caroline… she shuddered.

"Not polite to kiss and tell…"

"Oh, so you did kiss her?" Abby interrupted. "Then she is an old girlfriend…" she began to tease, but stopped when she saw Connor's face. He looked miserable. Oh. Oh no…

"Should I be jealous," she asked suddenly serious.

"No, no, not ever…" declared Connor looking at her with those big brown eyes opened wide in shock. He seemed to be searching for words… "Abby," he started, "you remember me telling you about a bit of a hassle with me flat years ago…"

Abby nodded.

"She was the hassle," he said simply, as if that explained anything. Abby just looked at him uncomprehendingly.

Connor closed his eyes. Thinking, he was trying very hard to say this the right way. He could almost hear Stephen giving him advice… she's got to know… it's ended.

"We lived together for a while my last year at uni. One day I came back to the flat and she had taken everything and left."

"She dumped you?" said Abby in disbelief.

"Yeah. We'd been arguing… arguing a lot, about everything it seemed… she didn't like my friends… it wasn't working out really," he admitted.

"She's a silly git," said Abby softly "to let you get away."

Connor looked up at her words. He smiled and reached to take her hand. As they walked along the sidewalk heading back towards Jess' for one last Friday night in before they moved into their new home, Abby couldn't resist teasing him one more time.

She asked "Connor, do you think we should invite her to the wedding?"

He stumbled, and almost fell, tripping over his own two feet. He looked at Abby appalled.

"No," he replied firmly, "I don't want her there, and me Mum would have a row with her… she never did give back me Gran's furniture."

-x-x-x-x-x-x