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

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

A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54. Takes place after Collision Course and prior to A Journey Begins

5.7 Marjorie

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Jess's oldest sister called to say she would be in London at the end of August. She was going shopping for school uniforms for her oldest son, Charles.

"Sam and I are just so pleased that Charles has been accepted to Sir Reginald's Preparatory School For Boys," said Marjorie.

"Oh," responded Jess… "um.. how lovely."

"Meet me and the boys for lunch Jess," ordered Marjorie. "Oh, and Evie has been telling me about your new boyfriend. It will be the perfect opportunity to meet. See you Saturday. Kiss… kiss."

The cell phone disconnected before Jess could respond.

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Over dinner that evening, Jess mentioned Marjorie's call to Becker.

"Hil… if you've got plans for Saturday already," said Jess, "I can tell her you can't make it… I don't want you to feel obligated… or… or… anything."

"Jess," replied Becker "I'd love to meet another one of your sisters. Is she the oldest? Or next to oldest?"

Jess smiled, and looked down at her plate. The sandwiches Hil had made with tomatoes, lettuce, tuna and a light vinaigrette dressing were tasty and just right for a hot August night.

"She's the oldest and still treats me like I'm five years old," said Jess hesitantly. "Sometimes Marjorie comes across as a bit… bossy."

"My big sister still introduces me as her baby brother," chuckled Becker. "Do you suppose all big sisters are like that?"

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Jess and Becker stood beneath the bright orange awning waiting for Marjorie. The shade from the awning made the August heat radiating off pavement just a bit less intense.

"Are you sure this is the time she said to meet?" asked Becker.

Jess nodded. They'd been waiting nearly half an hour. Becker glanced through the restaurant window. The slick wooden floors, trendy white serving dishes with their asymmetrical shaped plates and bowls didn't look like a family friendly restaurant to him.

"And she said the Orange Giraffe?" asked Becker.

"Oh there she is!" squealed Jess.

The dark haired woman coming up the walk towards them was taller than Jess by a good four inches. She wore sensible flat shoes, a navy blue dress, carried a huge shopping bag over one arm and in each hand tightly grasped the wrist of a little boy.

"Are those her sons?" asked Becker.

"Yes," replied Jess. She was grinning from ear to ear. "The little one is Peter, the bigger one is Charles."

"I thought Charles was going to be older," responded "if he is starting preparatory school."

"He's five," replied Jess. "I really don't know what type of preparatory school they have for children in year one, but Marjorie is very pleased about it."

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The waiter listened patiently while Marjorie ordered for herself and her sons.

"Charles will have a hamburger," said the woman, "well done, no pink in the middle, and be sure not to have it hard on the outside."

Becker noticed the little boy looking at the picture of fish and chips on the menu, but the child didn't say anything.

"And Peter will have the grilled cheese," continued Marjorie. "For myself… your house salad… no olives… put the dressing on the side… and I'd like extra croutons."

Jess ordered a Caesar salad, while Becker ordered a grilled steak sandwich.

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

Conversation was difficult in the noisy crowded restaurant. Becker could see Marjorie's frazzled hair showed reddish brown roots as she leaned forward across the table to repeat her question.

"Tell me, how you two met," demanded Marjorie.

Jess started talking, but her sister's insistent questions kept interrupting her. Marjorie turned to look at Becker as the waiter started placing dishes on the table.

"So if you work with Jess, are you some sort of computer specialist?" asked Marjorie.

"Not exactly," answered Becker as he reached out and grabbed Peter. It was the third time the little boy had tried to crawl out of his booster seat. Becker grabbed the child and sat him on his lap. "I work at the same place, just in a different department."

Lunch abruptly ended when Charles spilled his soda. The liquid ran across the table, dribbling down into Marjorie's lap before it could be stopped.

"Oh I'm sorry," said Marjorie as she stood, frantically blotting her dress with napkins, "but I've just got to get these boys home."

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Becker paid the bill and joined Jess outside in time to see Marjorie hug Jess goodbye. The woman made kissing sounds along the side of her sister's face and grabbed the hands of the boys.

"Goodbye Bill," called Marjorie over her shoulder as she hurried the boys away. "Pleasure meeting you."

Jess and Becker exchanged a glance as the woman and her children disappeared from sight.

"I'm sorry Hil," apologized Jess "Marjorie doesn't mean anything…"

"No, don't apologize," said Becker. "Marjorie has her hands full."

He held his hand out towards Jess. She put her small hand in his and they began to walk the other direction towards the park.

"I know Marjorie said it was a family friendly restaurant," added Becker "but it didn't seem that way to me."

"What do you mean?" asked Jess.

"Well," said Becker "when my sister visits, we usually find a place with a ball pool."

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Later that night, Jess sat on the sofa in Becker's tiny flat. She clicked the TV remote, searching the channels for something they both would enjoy. She looked up as Becker approached from the kitchen carrying two bowls of ice cream.

"Thank you for meeting my sister today," said Jess, "and paying for lunch… and… everything."

"Of course," answered Becker. "It was my pleasure."

"Really?" asked Jess, trying hard not to sound too surprised. "Usually Marjorie drives everyone crazy."

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