Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
4.8 Trimming the Tree
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Several months ago, when Abby and Connor first moved in to their new flat, Connor's Mum had come to London. The woman had said she wanted to see where they were living.
Abby wasn't sure whether or not to regret offering the woman a place to stay with them. Abby knew the woman only wanted to spend some time with her son, and it would be a terrible expense for the woman to rent a hotel room, but... The woman had walked around, eyeing everything critically, almost like she was inspecting the place. Her attitude left Abby wondering how this woman could possibly be related to Connor. If it wasn't for the soft shine in her brown eyes, so like Connor's, Abby might have missed the tiny sign of approval.
The invitation to Lester's dinner party was for the same evening that Connor's Mum arrived. Abby had called their boss when they first received the invitation to let him know they wouldn't be coming, but the man wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Bring Connor's Mum," Lester said "everyone else is coming and most are bringing someone too. It will all even out and everyone can have a relative to annoy someone. Is your brother coming too?"
Abby swallowed. She still hadn't heard from Jack. Did her brother even know she was back in London? For that matter, she wondered, did Jack even know that she had been gone?
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Surprisingly enough, the party at the Lester's had been fun.
When Abby, Connor and his Mum arrived, they had been introduced all around. In addition to the friends they already knew, they met Sarah's boyfriend, Becker's sister and her husband, and Lester's older brother who was visiting from his home in the north.
"You've got a brother," said Connor in surprise. "Does he work for the government too?"
"I'd tell you," said Lester sarcastically, "but then I'd have to chuck you through the nearest anomaly."
"My position is covered by the official secrets act," added Lester's brother smoothly, "but I'm loosely connected with the Millennium Library."
The charming man had taken an instant liking to Connor's Mum. She in turn was impressed with Edwin Aloysius Lester's impeccable style and fine manners. Upon their return to Abby and Connor's flat that evening, his Mum let them know she had accepted Edwin's invitation to dinner the next evening.
"What?" asked Connor in surprise. "You hardly know the man."
"Oh really Connor," said his Mum as she walked down the hallway to the spare bedroom, "The man's a librarian, and your bosses brother. It's not like I'm going out with a serial killer."
Connor watched his mother enter the bedroom and shut the door firmly behind her. He turned to Abby.
"The Millennium Library is not a proper lending library," Connor said "you can't check out books there… the place is affiliated with the military."
"Oh Connor," chuckled Abby as she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close towards her "let's not have any of your conspiracy theories tonight."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Now, nearly four months later it was Abby and Connor's first Christmas together as a proper couple in the twenty-first century, and in a way, they had wanted to spend it alone… just the two of them. But holidays are about family, friends and sharing.
They had a house guest again. Connor's mother had mentioned she would be in London for a few days in December, so they had invited her to stay with them. Privately, Abby thought Connor's Mum shared Connor's talent for moving into a flat for a few days and staying and staying. The few days had turned into more days, and now another week had gone by and it was Christmas Eve.
Abby hadn't really minded the woman staying. She was no trouble at all; in fact, they hadn't seen much of the woman as Lester's brother had been in London too. Edwin had taken Connor's Mum to the theater one evening and while Abby and Connor were at work, the pair had explored central London.
Abby and Connor had decided to wait to get a tree until this evening. They had invited their friends who were still in London for the holiday to come over to help decorate. Connor's Mum had insisted that it was a party.
"I'll make that dip you like Connor," his Mum said "a vegetable tray and some pastys. It will be fun." Then she stopped and turned to Abby.
"That is…" the older woman said "if it's all right?"
"Yeah," nodded Abby "sounds lovely."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
While Connor had gone out for the tree, Abby and Connor's Mum started chopping vegetables in the kitchen.
"Here's the secret ingredient to Connor's favorite dip," said the older woman conspiratorially.
Abby turned and looked. Her blue eyes opened wide.
"Just don't tell him what's in it," added Connor's Mum with a dimpled grin "or he'll never eat it again."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Connor returned with a tree and Becker too.
"Look who I found," Connor said with a grin.
"Good thing," said Abby laughing at the sight of the two men trying to get the huge tree into the flat. "Or you would never have got the tree home. Would the two of you start putting the lights on, before everyone else gets here?"
The dip and vegetables were ready on the table in the front room. Abby had also put out a tray of cheese and crackers, a bowl of crisps and was looking for paper plates and a tray for the pasty's when the sound of Christmas carols began to play.
Connor's Mum had put some old holiday CDs on to play. The doorbell rang, before Abby could say anything. The older woman just smiled.
"Go let your guests in," said Connor's Mum before she disappeared back into the kitchen.
Abby let Duncan in, and then shortly afterwards Edie and her current boyfriend arrived.
"I thought you were going to dump him," hissed Abby when she had a moment alone with her friend.
Edie rolled her eyes. The tall woman shook her head, tossing the dark lengths over her shoulder. "We made up," she replied.
Abby just shook her head in response, and then reached a hand to Edie's hair. She pulled back a length of the dark brown tresses to uncover a colored strand at the base of her friend's neck.
"Purple?"
"It's my favorite color," said Edie nodding happily. Then glancing at her boyfriend who had now found the punchbowl, she said "He hates it."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Becker and Duncan were sorting through the ornaments in a box on the floor when Lester and his wife arrived with Edwin.
"We can't stay long," said Lester "the children are at the theater with my Mother… A Christmas Carol is playing. We'll need to pick them up when the show lets out."
The couple joined Becker and Duncan at the ornament box, while the Lester's brother promptly disappeared into the kitchen. Edie's boyfriend was still at the punchbowl and was happily helping himself to another drink when Connor's Mum opened the kitchen door.
"Be a love," the woman said to Edie as she held out a tray of pastys, "and set this on the table." Edie took the tray.
Abby looked around. Nearly everyone that she expected was here. It was time to start trimming the tree.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Connor was holding the ladder steady, while Abby hung an ornament on the topmost branches of the tree. She held a hand down expectantly for another ornament. Connor was grumbling something under his breath as he handed Abby the sparkling round ornament.
"What?" she hissed at him.
"He's too young for her," said Connor looking in the direction of his Mum and Lester's older brother. The two were sorting through the ornament box, laughing and talking quietly together.
Abby smirked. "He's over fifty, that's close enough," she replied. "besides, maybe he likes older women."
"Me Mum's never even looked at another man since me father died," continued Connor. "I don't know why she's smiling and laughing at everything he says."
Abby thought how it must be for Connor's Mum, raising a child alone.
"You don't want her to be lonely now Conn," said Abby.
"No!" said Connor emphatically, "but I don't… it's just…" He floundered for words for a moment, then continued. "If they hit it off… can you imagine… if me Mum and Lester's brother ever married… we'd all be related."
Abby heard an ornament drop to the floor, shattering.
She peered around the tree to the other side. Lester was standing on a stool his eyes wide and staring. Vivian, his wife, stood beside him. They both must have heard Connor. Abby wondered which one of them had dropped the ornament.
"I'll just get the dust broom, yeah."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The last fragments of the broken ornament were being swept into the dustpan when the doorbell rang again.
"Edie, would you get that?" asked Abby.
"No, I've got it," said Becker jumping to his feet. Abby and Edie exchanged an amused glance. I wonder who Action Man is waiting for, thought Abby.
Sarah and Jamal were standing at the doorway grinning. "We decided to stay in London," explained Sarah as they entered the room. "What can we do to help?"
"Grab an ornament," chuckled Abby. Pointing she added "The tree's over there."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Nearly all the ornaments were out of the box and on the tree. People were mingling around the table, munching on pastys and carrot sticks. Abby refilled the bowl of crisps. Looking around, she wondered where Connor had disappeared to.
A moment later she spied him coming down the stairs. He was holding a small box. Abby walked across the living room to meet Connor at the bottom of the steps.
"Where did you go?"
"Went to get this for you," whispered Connor softly. Holding the box out towards her, he said "I thought we should have a special ornament this year."
Abby opened the small box carefully. "Oh," she gasped "it's beautiful." The delicate birds nest ornament was made with twigs and red ribbon, and held three miniature round ball ornaments in place of eggs.
Together, they hung the ornament high in the tree.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Heavy knocking on the door was accompanied by the stomping of footsteps. Becker once again made it to the door first. The Cutters: Nick and Claudia were standing there. Nick was holding tiny Stephanie.
"We were on our way back home, from Claudia's father's," said the professor with a grin. "We thought we might stop in for just a minute."
Abby moved to help Claudia get Stephanie unbundled from her winter things. Claudia sat the tiny child down, holding her little hands while Stephanie found her feet. The moment Claudia let go, Stephanie promptly sat down.
"Oh," chuckled Claudia "still not ready?"
As the little girl crawled towards her father, Abby chuckled too. The professor was kneeling, holding out his hands towards the child, grinning for all he was worth.
The doorbell rang again. A young woman with impossibly high heels entered into the flat.
"Hi," said Jess brightly, "I'm sorry I'm late. I would have been here sooner, but traffic was just awful."
"It's all right Jess," said Abby with a chuckle. The new woman at the ARC was becoming a good friend. "We're glad to see you found our flat."
Jess was being introduced to the others in the flat when the doorbell rang yet again. Becker let go of Jess's arm regretfully as he went to open the door.
Abby couldn't see the person directly in front of Becker. The view of the door was somewhat blocked by Becker's body, but just beyond Becker Abby could two of the security team wearing the ARCs familiar uniforms.
"Look who we found," said Becker dragging a figure forward into the flat.
"Jack!" exclaimed Abby.
Beside her, Connor gave Becker a knowing look and mouthed a silent "Thank you."
"Merry Christmas Abby, Connor," said Jack sheepishly. Then looking around the room, he added "Merry Christmas to all!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x