Disclaimer: Primeval and its characters belong to Impossible Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N - This chapter contains a small nod to the gloriously scrummy Tryptichverse stories by the incredible iEvenstarEstel and friends.

This chapter has been modified slightly to fit in with another of my stories called 'Therapy'

Connor and Abby

Abby looked at the stick and the little word 'positive'. Her hand flew to her mouth and tears sprung to her eyes. She let out a little gasp. Connor, sat on the loo seat lid, a coiled spring of anticipation, leapt up at her reaction placing his hands on her waist. "Is it …?" She nodded and his face exploded in a massive grin as he hugged her tight, picking her up and swinging her round as he placed kisses on her forehead, nose and mouth.

"Oh sweetheart, that's amazing. We've gotta tell Mam she's gonna be a granny, and Jess she's gonna be an aunty, and, and Emily and Matt and Becker and Lester, and, and …."

"And Jack." Her voice was flat. "He ought to know he's gonna be an uncle I suppose."

"Yeah well, I'm sure he'll rise to the occasion." His voice sounded upbeat and optimistic. His inner voice said "not that that's bloody likely."

"Come on, let's celebrate!" beamed Connor, placing his wife back on her feet and bringing the tone back up to one of joy. "You have your shower and I'll feed Rex, then we can go to that little café on the corner and have decaf coffee and bagels. If you ask very nicely I may let you have a lemon and poppy seed muffin." He kissed her nose again, took the tester stick from her hand and gently eased her in the direction of the shower. "I'll just put this somewhere safe for posterity" he said indicating the stick.

Abby stripped off her clothes and turned on the shower. She looked at herself in the mirror, rubbing her hand across her stomach. She turned sideways and surveyed her profile in the mirror. Still flat, but not for long. She'd have to modify her exercise routine to compensate.

She climbed in to the shower and began lathering her hair. She should be elated, but instead she felt flat. She and Connor were having a baby! A beautiful bouncing baby with the man she adored. Who'd have ever thought it?

Well, exactly, who? Certainly not her mother who had abandoned them when they were little more than babies themselves. And certainly not her step-father who called her worthless, told her no-one would ever want her except for sex, who hit her and, once she was old enough decided to show her exactly what he thought she was good for – it took nearly two years, but thank heavens a teacher finally spotted the signs and managed to get them out of there. She suspected Jack wouldn't care less either. He was too selfish. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is what they had called it – nice to have an official name for 'selfish shit'. What it did mean was that he would never change and could never be trusted. So she had Connor and that was it – Connor, his mother and the guys at the ARC. Well that was better than no-one and at least this baby would be loved, by them anyway.

Abby had no fear of the biological process of child birth. She had years of experience with the animals at Wellington Zoo and then the menagerie. She knew the pitfalls and potential problems to look out for, she knew the vitamins to take, the foods to avoid and how to take care of herself. She was already in good condition, so the baby already had the perfect environment to grow strong and (hopefully) healthy.

It was the emotional side that worried her. She had no role models. She'd never experienced good parenting and she knew in her heart how she was quick to anger and subject to mood swings. She worried that the strain of raising a child would cause her to snap and desert her child. Could she end up like her mother or worse, like her step-father – violent and abusive. She knew that abused children could in turn become abusers.

She walked into the kitchen, dressed but pensive. Connor spun round ready to kiss her and head for the shower when he saw her face. "What's wrong love?"

"I'm worried Con. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, if I'll be a good mother. I didn't exactly have the greatest role models and you know what my temper's like. I'm frightened Con that I'm going to screw this up, that I'm going to screw our kid up, or worse, abandon them." She dissolved into heart wrenching sobs as Connor wrapped her in his arms and rubbed her back to calm her.

Connor let the worst of the sobs subside as he cooed and calmed her with whispers of love. When she had quieted he drew her to the sofa and sat her down. "Abby love, you're gonna be a great mam. I've seen you with Rex and the animals in the menagerie. Just think how much you love all your pets. And all the creatures that come through the anomalies – you're so protective of them. Even the ones that are trying to eat me!" He grinned at her and ran his thumb down her cheek to reassure her.

"You have so much love to give, if you'd only trust yourself. Look how much love and patience you give me and I'm the biggest disaster area going. Please trust your instincts love. I know you'll be brilliant, best mam in town, no question." He gave her a quick hug and a gentle kiss. "Now, shower for me and then bagels. You OK sweetheart?"

Abby nodded and watched Connor skid towards the shower whilst she pondered what he said. He was right. She must trust her instincts and not let ungrounded fear of the unknown stop her from enjoying this. She smiled to herself and rubbed her hand in small circles on her belly. "I am going to be the best mum in town Little One, no question. Your Daddy said so."

-0-0-

Connor did a little dance as he stripped off his boxers and dressing gown. He couldn't control his delight. Catching sight of himself in the bathroom mirror he scrunched in half, balled his hands into fists and did a little jog on the spot, pumping his arms in time, the grin on his face threatening to make his jaw ache.

He climbed into the shower and began to spread lather on himself all the while singing "I'm gonna be a daddy, I'm gonna be a daddy."

As he shaved especially for the occasion he tried out names "Pater – no, too severe. Sir – huh since when. Father – hmmm no. Pops – yuck. Pa – also yuck. Papa – hmmmmm maybe. Daddy – oh yes yes yes!"

Connor bounced around the bedroom picking out clothes. He stuck his old trilby on his head, just because he could "I'm gonna be a daddy, I'm gonna be a daddy."

He surveying himself in the mirror and, satisfied with what he saw, he pointed at his reflection "You're gonna be a daddy."

He met Abby in the kitchen. She looked a lot happier now – more settled.

"We OK love? Ready to go?"

"Yeah Con, we're totally OK." She leant forward and kissed him gently before grabbing his hand and the house keys and leading him towards the front door. Abby Temple and her puppy-dog husband.

tbc

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