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

Happy New Year

Chapter Two

"Tom!" Connor cried, still half- dreaming. He blinked as he suddenly awoke, trying to focus and remember where he was. He looked down at Abby sleeping beside him, and smiled in relief. The dream still lingered in his head, but the sight of Abby calmed and soothed him.

He gently kissed the top of her head, trying desperately to shake off the rest of his nightmare, which was fading slowly. Without really wanting to, but unable to help himself, he tried to recall what he'd been dreaming about, but couldn't quite bring it to the forefront of his memory. In his dream Tom had died once again, but it wasn't the way it had happened in real life. He dragged out a dim memory of Helen's face on a raptor's body tearing Tom apart. He knew it was just a stupid dream, but in reality Tom had died, and Connor was still devastated about what had happened.

He tried to shake off his melancholy. Tom had died; Stephen had died; Cutter had died and April had died. It was terrible… awful, so many people- so many friends, but every day he and his colleagues faced death. It was a fact of life in this kind of work. He'd have a melt down every now and again, but he knew that he'd be able to pull himself together and move forward, there was no other choice. He could give up like he nearly did in the future, or walk away from this job. But he knew he would never do that. He'd fought with everything he had to get back into the ARC after he'd been fired when he'd returned from the Cretaceous. He had to carry on, for the sakes of all of those people who had died. He had to do it for them, for Cutter and for Abby- his future wife.

This was New Year's Eve, and he was going to welcome in a brand new year- maybe this was the one where they found out more about the anomalies and learnt to control them and predict where they'd open, saving hundreds of lives. Maybe this was the year they actually won. If not, he'd continue until it was!

Abby stirred slightly in her sleep, and Connor suddenly felt like partying and having fun! He'd get drunk and stupid, and celebrate being alive, with his Abby by his side. He suddenly pulled all the covers off Abby, effectively waking her up.

"Wakey, wakey!" he cried.

"Connor!" Abby protested angrily. It was cold, and she was stark naked!

She tried to pull the covers back over her, but Connor was now feeling mischievous and held onto them tightly, and wouldn't let her get a proper grip on them. Abby felt mad at first, but as she fully awakened, she saw the cheeky glint in Connor's eyes and was so happy that he'd put his grief aside, that she couldn't help but laugh.

"So, you want to play it like that, do you!" she said, and grabbed her pillow and began pummelling Connor with it.

Connor dropped the covers in his surprise and picked up his own pillow in retaliation, enjoying the sight of a naked Abby bouncing around the room, chasing after him. He suddenly grabbed her, and pulled her into a tight hold.

"Hah!" he grunted. "Now I've got you!"

Abby suddenly twisted his arm, and the rest of his body just seemed to go with it as she executed a judo move and threw him over her shoulder, grunting slightly with the effort. He landed on his back on the floor with an 'ow!'

"I can take you any time I want!" she told him smugly, enjoying the range of emotions playing on his face.

He suddenly swung her over so that he was on top of her, both of them giggling. He held her hands above her head, although she struggled slightly to get free. She was sure she could break his hold if she really wanted to, but rather enjoyed it when he took control, and pretended to resist as she squealed a little. Connor pelted a rain of little kisses from her navel up to her neck, and then as he looked deep into her blue eyes, both of them sobered instantly, the grins fading from their faces as desire took over instead.

Connor bent his head and brought his lips roughly down on hers. He let go of her hands and she raked her fingernails down his back as they kissed. They rolled over and over, kissing all the while until Connor stood up, pulling Abby with him. He lifted her up into his arms, savouring the feel of her naked body, and gently laid her on the bed.

"God, you're beautiful!" he said thickly.

Abby felt warm, cherished and thrilled by Connor's appreciation. She licked her lips which had suddenly gone dry under his lingering gaze. The sensuous action sent a bolt of desire through his body.

"Oh God, Abby!" he murmured again. "I want...I need you…right now!"

"I'm here, Connor…I'm yours…forever!"

Connor crushed her velvet lips with his own and soon they were lost in their passion. Connor's last coherent thought was 'I'm so lucky' before he couldn't think clearly any more as a mist of love and desire took over his whole being, and he made love to the woman he adored…

~~oOOo~~

It was eight o'clock, and Connor and Abby were getting ready to go to Matt and Emily's for New Year's Eve. It wasn't a party as such, just a bunch of friends meeting up to welcome in the new year. At least that was what they thought until they arrived. It was Emily's first soiree in the twenty first century, and she had really gone to town, no doubt aided by Jess who was an expert on such matters. Connor secretly thought that he'd hire Jess to be his wedding planner when he and Abby got married hopefully in the next year, maybe around June. She'd be amazing at it!

Matt's minimalistic flat had been transformed. Where the unit in the centre of the room had been practically bare, it was now covered with brightly coloured lights and decorations. More fairy lights hung on the railings on the balcony, which had an amazing view of the city below. The lights from the buildings below joined in with the ethereal effect of fairyland. Connor thought it looked like the elf city in Lothlórien , from the Lord of the Rings, and Abby good naturedly rolled her eyes as he whispered to her.

"You could be Galadriel, the Lady of Lórien. Shorter of course, because she was tall…and your hair's not as long…but just as beautiful!" he waffled. Abby laughed, taking it as a compliment, knowing that to Connor, this was high praise indeed.

They lingered on the balcony enjoying the view and the twinkling lights around them as they hugged each other close, in a replica of the time they'd done the same when they'd got back from the Cretaceous.

"Hey, no hiding out here, you two!" Sarah's voice greeted them. She kissed both Abby and Connor on the cheek as she handed them each a glass of champagne. "From Jenny…" she explained as Connor's eyebrows rose as he took the expensive drink from her hands.

They followed her back into the room where everyone was gathered together on the settee and chairs around the TV, which Matt had only just recently acquired. He'd never felt the need to have one before, but Emily had been so enchanted by them that he'd bought a huge one for her for Christmas, just for the joy of seeing her exclaim over the images as she watched in awe.

"The countdown's just going to begin!" Jess squealed, clutching hold of Becker's arm in excitement.

He smiled down at her realising he'd never seen in the new year like this before. Oh, he'd had a few drinks with his family or his men to welcome it in, and even to commiserate over any lost lives in the past year, but he'd never celebrated with a gorgeous woman on his arm. Never kissed soft pink lips as the hour struck. Never felt so alive as he did now, with Jess by his side.

"5…4…3…2…1… Happy New Year!" they all screamed, pulling party poppers and toasting with champagne.

Becker pulled Jess to him, and kissed her lovingly on the lips, as he had been dreaming of doing all evening, sighing as he finally captured them with his. Sarah and Danny kissed too, but soon shyly turned away- their relationship was still brand new to them. Matt and Emily kissed as Big Ben struck the end of 2012, and they welcomed 2013 in together, happy to be in this amazing world- the woman from the past and the man from the future. Connor pulled Abby into his arms for a lingering kiss that lasted well after all the others had parted from their partners and had begun to mingle and congratulate each other.

There was a knock at the door and as Matt went to open it to reveal Lester and Philip standing there with bottles of wine and malt whisky, someone turned the music on and the merry sounds filled the room. Some of the team began to dance, and as Abby and Connor finally tore themselves away from each other's kiss and began to sway together to the music, Jess looked at Becker as he swept her up into his arms.

"They're so much in love!" she whispered wistfully.

"Just like me." Becker said involuntarily, shocked as the words escaped from his mouth.

"Just…just…" Jess stuttered, stepping away from Becker, so that she could look clearly into his eyes. "Do…do you mean that?"

Well, he'd said it now! He hadn't been lying, it was just that he wasn't sure she was ready to hear those words just yet. Their relationship was as new as Sarah and Danny's, but seemed to be moving along very quickly whereas the other two were taking it slow.

"I…I…I'm sorry, Jess, if I've frightened you by being too full on. Tell me if you want me to slow down. B...but it's true all the same. I love you. Always have from the moment I saw you, truth be known."

"Oh!" Jess could hardly breathe let alone speak. It had been love at first sight for her too.

Becker looked dejected as she stood silently mouth opening and shutting wordlessly. That was it, then! He'd gone and done it- just what he'd been trying to avoid. He'd frightened her off by being too intense. Why was he so intense about everything! He put his head down, not knowing what to do or say. Suddenly, he felt a small pressure under his chin and raised his head. Jess had placed her fingers there and was lifting his face to look directly into her eyes.

"Oh, Becker!" she whispered. "I love you too! I…I was scared I was in love with being in love, if you know what I mean. It's difficult not to be when you're around Connor and Abby who clearly adore each other. I wanted that too. But with you…I knew I loved you the first moment I met you, when just the two of us were alone in the ARC."

"You do?" Becker responded, his eyes lighting up. "You sure?"

"Oh, yes! I'm positive."

"And it's me you love, not just love itself?"

"Yes. I love you. I don't feel the same way with Lester or Philip or Danny or…well, I could go on. I love your eyes…"

"And I love your lips…"

"Well, I love your strong jaw!" they began laughingly vying with each other about what each of them loved about the other.

"I love your feistiness…and your colours…"

"And, Captain Becker…" Jess announced. "I love your lovely hair!"

They finally fell silent, standing face to face with each other. Jess could feel Becker's breath mingling with her own as they looked softly at each other. Becker couldn't wait another moment, and gently moved to kiss Jess, who instantly responded by parting her lips. He nuzzled them and deepened the kiss. Even a voice saying 'Oh, please!' in the background didn't stop him from savouring the feel of Jess kissing him.

"What is it with these people?" Lester said loudly to Philip in his usual sardonic manner. "First we have Shaggy and Daphne and now Action Man and Barbie! Good lord, Philip- quick, pass me the malt before I'm sick!"

Philip passed Lester a large glass of malt whisky and they clinked glasses together, smiling. Everyone really knew Lester cared about his team even though they all pretended otherwise.

Matt and Emily watched their guests as they danced, ate and whispered to each other. Emily looked very pleased at the way her first party was going, she thought it had been a very successful evening, even though it was very different from the sort of new year party she'd attended at home. That had been a huge affair, in fact it was more a ball than a party, where the young unmarried ladies were vetted by the single men, and alliances struck between families. There had been no kissing and disappearing into a quiet corner like Abby and Connor were doing at the moment. There had been strict chaperones watching at all times. This was so much more fun!

"They're all adorable. I think this is a very successful party!" she smiled.

"You're adorable!" Matt responded in his soft lilting Irish accent. "Happy New Year, Emily."

"Happy New Year, Matt." She replied, unable to utter another word as her own lips were captured by Matt and she melted into his arms…

THE END

Well, there we'll leave them, our favourite Primeval team, enjoying their New Year party.

I hope you all enjoyed the story and Happy New Year to you all. May everything you dream and hope for come true in this new year (except Connor…he's mine!)…

I'll be back soon with a new chapter of Double Wedding, so hopefully I'll see you all then…

Happy 2013!

*hugs and kisses to you all!*