Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Christmas Party

Chapter Two

When Connor and Abby walked into the warehouse that Jess and Emily had commandeered for the party, they were greeted by a barrage of noise and music. Everywhere they looked were brightly coloured decorations and lights. It looked amazing. They looked at each other in wonder at the brilliant job the girls had done, and holding hands, they made their way to where the rest of their friends were already sitting at a couple of tables pulled together.

"Here they are!" Emily announced as the two latecomers made their way to their seats.

"Yeah, sorry- Abby took ages getting ready!" Connor lied.

"Connor!" Abby swiped at his arm playfully, before taking her seat next to Jess. Connor sat beside Becker and Danny. Danny glanced quickly at Abby, and then turned to Connor, whispering in his ear.

"Why were you two really late, eh? Nudge, nudge!" Danny laughed, his words full of innuendo, and his eyebrows waggling up and down, whilst he elbowed Connor in the ribs.

Connor, as was Danny's intention, looked like a startled deer, and turned a healthy shade of pink. At gatherings like this, he was always fair game to the others.

"Don't tease the boy!" Matt laughed. "At least he's getting some…"

"Matt Anderson!" Emily interjected, hands on hips and feigning anger.

"Oh, you are so in trouble!" chortled Danny.

"Don't think you're off the hook, Danny Quinn!" Sarah said.

"Sorry, Sarah- I'll be good." Danny was quiet for a few more minutes, then turned back to Connor again. "You know, Connor, I always enjoy seeing you and Abby together. You took so long actually getting there that it seems amazing how you finally managed it! And engaged! Tell us how you did it, mate!"

"Er…what?" Connor looked over at Abby who was chatting with Jess. "I…er. We were trapped in the Cretaceous, Danny- only two people there!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he's said something bad. Danny jumped on it immediately.

"What! Are you saying you only got together because you were trapped away from civilisation? Not very flattering to Abby, mate!"

"No! No! I…er…I wanted Abby…I mean, we…I…" Connor groaned in frustration. Danny laughed, having succeeded in embarrassing Connor once more, and slapped him on the back.

"You make it too easy, Connor!" he smirked. "Just playing with you!"

Connor joined in the laughter good naturedly, cheeks bright red, knowing that Danny was just having fun at his expense. The banter and laughter continued and the drinks flowed as the party got into full swing. The team were surprised when Lester and Philip joined them and bought everyone a round. The band began to play a new song, and Jess squealed loudly, making Connor jump and spill his drink everywhere.

"Oh! I love this one! Come on, girls, let's dance!"

The girls immediately jumped up from their seats to join Jess, who was already dancing exuberantly on her way to the dance floor. Abby hesitated, glancing back at Connor, and she smiled at him as she slowly got up to go and join them. The noise of the party seemed to fade into the background as they gazed at each other, feeling like they were the only two people in the room, before Jenny put her hand on Abby's shoulder to whisper something to her. Abby finally broke the contact between her and Connor, and went with Jenny onto the dance floor to join the others, casting furtive little looks back at Connor as she went, hand caressing her locket.

Connor watched her thinking that even after all this time, he still couldn't quite believe that she was with him. The feelings he had for her were stronger than ever, and he couldn't even look at her without the burning desire for her arousing all his senses. Even in this room, full of people, noise and music, the only thing he could see or think about was Abby.

Danny smiled as he noticed Connor's eyes following Abby wherever she went. For all his teasing, he was really pleased for them both. He out of everyone could understand what they had gone through trapped for so long in the past. He went to nudge Becker but stopped suddenly in amazement. Becker was covertly watching Jess, a small smile on his lips. Danny could hardly believe his eyes. So that's how the land lies, he thought. Becker and Jess! Who'd have thought it! He was certainly going to keep a close watch on that one!

He sighed, looking over to where Sarah was dancing. He knew he looked at her in the same way that Becker was watching Jess, but couldn't help himself. He was hoping to dance with her tonight, and perhaps she'd agree to go out for a few drinks with him some time. She suddenly looked up and saw him watching her. She smiled brightly at him and his heart fluttered. He was as bad as Connor, he thought! Going all moony over a girl…but what a girl- she was clever, and feisty and gorgeous…..

~~oOOo~~

While the girls danced, giggling and chatting as they moved to the music, the men started a loud discussion on the merits of their favourite football teams. Danny was a fervent West Ham supporter, but Matt preferred Manchester United, although he insisted the Irish were better at football. They embarked on a friendly argument, each defending their points of view. Becker laughed and joined in here and there, voicing his opinion that rugby was better anyway.

"Rugby!" scoffed Danny. "That's a game for your boarding school types. Real men play football!"

"No, you're wrong." Becker insisted. "Rugby's so much harder- you need skill, dexterity and strength!"

"What do you think, Connor?" Danny asked. "…Connor?"

They all turned towards Connor, who hadn't joined in the discussion. He didn't really like football or rugby- well most sport if he was honest. He'd suffered at the hands of the 'sporty' types at school too much, as he'd been useless at it. They'd laughed at his attempts to play and seemed to delight in tackling him at every opportunity to laugh at the 'geek falling over his own two feet!'

But Connor hadn't really been paying much attention to the conversation. As soon as they had mentioned the topic, he'd turned to something that was far more interesting to him- watching Abby gyrating on the dance floor! He couldn't seem to drag his eyes of her as she wiggled her hips, and found his gaze wandering to her perfectly shaped buttocks. He licked his lips, restraining the groan that threatened to escape his lips. She kept glancing over at him, a smirk on her face, following his gaze…she knew exactly what she was doing to him, he thought! Little minx, just wait until he got her home! He smiled slightly savouring the thought… he'd really been looking forward to this party, and now he couldn't wait to get home! He shook his head slightly perplexed at himself. He made an effort to pull himself together- he still had the dancing to look forward to, holding Abby close to him in his arms, sensuously swaying to the music together. And don't forget that mistletoe!…

"Connor!" Danny's voice said again, but still didn't penetrate his thoughts. Danny rolled his eyes to the others at the sight of Connor sitting with his mouth slightly open and a faraway expression on his face. He clapped Connor on the shoulder.

"Why don't you ask Abby for a dance, mate and put yourself out of your misery" he suggested. He almost laughed out loud as Connor's face immediately lit up at the release from the 'guys bonding' session.

"Yeah…you know what, I think I will!" he said.

Connor jumped up and approached Abby. They all watched as he joined her and pulled her into his arms with a sigh. Abby turned to him with a beaming smile and immediately wrapped her arms around him, snuggling into his neck as they swept away from the others.

"Man, he's so whipped!" Danny remarked, shaking his head. "How about you, Becker?" he continued, turning back to look at his friend. "You gonna ask Jess?"

"What? Me? No! I'm just going to stay here with you guys and have a few beers." Becker replied although his eyes kept darting towards where Jess was bobbing up and down to the music. The others laughed, and Becker raised an eyebrow in response.

"Good man, good man!" Lester said. "One lovesick puppy is too much for me to stomach as it is!"

"Well, I'm no lovesick puppy!" Matt laughed. "But I'm still going to dance with my woman! See you, guys!"

Becker watched as Matt approached Emily and noticed how Jess cast a sorrowful glance in his direction as she and Sarah were left on the dance floor. Jenny was standing near the stage, watching her husband play in the band. She was looking forward to when the disco took over and they could dance together. They hadn't been married long, and Jenny longed to spend the evening with Michael. When Jess saw Becker looking, she quickly hid her expression and danced madly about, even though the music had slowed right down.

"You know what!" he said, standing up suddenly. "It's my duty to make sure a lovely lady isn't without a partner at a Christmas party!"

"Yeah you're right, mate! Very chivalrous!" Danny replied also standing up, looking at Sarah, and they both went over to the dance floor to join the women. Lester and Philip were left alone at their table. Philip looked at Lester, and Lester looked back at him.

"You're not going to ask me to dance, are you?" Lester quipped.

Philip shook his head. "Certainly not! No, I was thinking more on the lines that a nice malt whisky might be in order!"

"Top man!" Lester agreed. "Malt it is. Here have a Savannah to accompany it!"

The two men sat back comfortably with their cigars and whisky, savouring the rich flavours whilst overlooking their staff like parents watching their children at play…

~~oOOo~~

"Abby…" Connor whispered.

"Mmm?" she murmured in reply.

" Where's the mistletoe?"

"What?" Abby asked, her head shooting up to look at him. "Mistletoe?"

"Yeah…want to kiss my beautiful fiancée under the mistletoe, don't I!"

"I don't know, Connor, but we don't need the mistletoe, do we?"

"Oh. No. Sorry! Of course not." Connor said, looking dejected.

"Silly!" Abby giggled. "We don't need the mistletoe because we… can… kiss…without it!" As Abby said each word, she softly kissed him, and as she said the last word, she deepened the kiss.

The music stopped playing for the band to have a rest and for the disco to take over, but Abby and Connor were totally oblivious as Connor pulled her tighter to him, and lost himself in the feel of her soft rosebud mouth and her tongue tantalisingly playing with his. They remained on the dance floor swaying slightly as if the music was still playing and embraced, kissing until they were gasping for breath but not wanting to break apart.

Suddenly the disco started playing their set, and the sound of a Christmas song blasted out, making Abby and Connor jump apart. The whole room laughed as the young couple stood on the empty dance floor blinking in surprise and looking very embarrassed, and a spontaneous round of applause rang out from the onlookers. Abby laughed, but Connor went red and pulled her with him to the door to go outside for some fresh air to cool his hot cheeks. Lester looked at Philip, cigar in one hand, his whisky in the other and shook his head.

"Ah! Young love!" he sighed, wistfully thinking of his younger days when his wife and he had just met. They'd been so much in love. They still were, of course but their love had mellowed into comfort and fondness rather than raw passion and excitement. "I'm so glad I'm past all that! Give me a fine malt instead, any day!" He took a large swig of his drink, dismissing his slight envy- he'd had his day, it was now the turn of the younger generation. "Yes, indeed, a Savannah and whisky is all a man needs!"

He shook himself out of his reverie. He'd know Abby and Connor since they had been little more than children. They'd grown into a fine young couple, and he was as proud of them as any father would be of their own children. He'd only tell them that on the day they married, though. Wouldn't do to make them think he'd gone soft!

He raised his glass to Philip's. "To young love and malt whisky!" he toasted.

"Young love and malt whisky!" Philip responded, clinking glasses with Lester's…

To Be Continued….

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