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… and the dark chocolate was recommended by Prawn Crackers

6.7 Intermezzo

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

Winter continued cold and gray. January finally passed into February and Becker stood Jess up for Valentines Day.

"I'm sorry," said Becker.

"Nonsense," said Jess. "You have nothing to be sorry for… I'd be upset if you weren't there."

She could hear him sigh through the cell phone connection.

"How is Gwendolyn?" asked Jess.

"She didn't lose the baby," replied Becker.

Jess gave an answering sigh in relief. She hadn't realized Gwendolyn was pregnant when the tall woman had stopped by Becker's flat in January.

"Doctor says she can go home tomorrow," continued Becker. "She's got orders for bed rest for the next five months and she's not to lift anything heavier than a small teacup."

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

Becker was back in London on Monday.

He appeared at the ARC carrying a bouquet of dark red roses interspersed with tiny white baby's breath and a Sprungli box… dark chocolate with figs and caramel. And if anyone had really been wondering whether or not Jess and the brave Captain were an item… well the kiss they shared in front of the anomaly detection device would have cleared up any questions.

"Harrumph," said Lester. "This is a workplace you know!"

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

Later that evening, the chocolate box was opened.

"No thank you," replied Becker with a grin. "Those are for you to enjoy."

Jess leaned back against the pillows and gave a contented sigh.

"You know Hil," said Jess thoughtfully, "I've never seen pictures of your sister's children at your flat… in fact… I don't think I've ever seen pictures of them at all."

"I keep most of my pictures in my wallet," replied Becker. "The rest are in the cell phone… easier to carry that way."

The look Jess gave Becker left him in no doubt as to what she wanted. He glanced through the bedroom doorway. A trail of clothing started in the living room with his boots by the front door. Jess's bright purple heels were by the kitchen counter, where she'd stopped to put the flowers down. Various other articles of clothing were strewn across the floor, ending in a puddle of Jess's lavender and green dress by the entrance to the bedroom. He'd picked her up and carried her to bed from there.

"I'll get the pictures," said Becker as he put his feet back on the floor.

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

Spring came and they had Easter dinner at Marjorie's. The roast was a little dry and the moment their parents stepped into the kitchen Charles and Peter started throwing peas at each other. They each had time to lob off one spoonful before Becker stopped them.

"No. Your Aunt Jess dressed up especially nice for her visit with you today," said Becker "and green peas were not part of her color scheme."

The two boys exchanged a confused glance.

"What's a color scheme?" asked little Peter.

Thankfully Marjorie and her husband returned with gravy and hot cross buns, so Becker didn't have to explain. Jess and Becker drove back to London soon after dinner ended.

"Meg's about the same age as Charles," said Becker talking about his nieces, "and Nan's younger than Peter… I don't remember them ever throwing food at the dinner table… at least not since they were big enough to sit at the table."

"Maybe it's a boy thing," said Jess. "My sister Alexandra's daughter Phoebe is the same age as Nan… and she's got lovely table manners."

Becker didn't really think table manners were gender specific, but he did think it was time to change the subject.

"With all the pictures Marjorie has around the house," said Becker "you would think there would be at least one good one of your sister Alexandra. The only thing I could tell from the pictures I saw is that she has really dark hair."

"Alexandra hates getting her picture taken," chuckled Jess. "Even as a child she always turned away or ducked behind someone when the camera came out."

"So no pictures of Alexandra?"

"Mum and Dad have some," admitted Jess "and her husband has a gorgeous picture of her from when they were first dating. Alexandra says he keeps it on his desk at work."

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

Evie and her friend Sharon were both in London for Jess's birthday. For Jess's birthday, Becker made reservations again at the same restaurant they'd gone to last year. This year, her birthday was on a warm moonlit night, and La Trattoria had already opened up their garden seating.

"Three weeks from this Saturday," said Evie, "the British Museum is opening an exhibit of some of the stuff we've brought back from the dig we've been working at. We'd love to have you both come."

Jess and Becker exchanged a glance.

"We'd love to, really," said Jess, "but we've already promised some friends that we'd be at their wedding."

"No worries," replied Evie as she reached for a breadstick. "The exhibit will be up for two months… if you're interested… come and see it."

The thrum of the cello caused Jess to turn her head. The small stage was barely big enough for the three performers and their instruments. The vocalist murmured something and the performance began.

"Did you know they were going to be playing tonight?" asked Jess.

Becker just grinned.

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

Jess finally made it to Surrey at the end of May. She looked through the nursery glass at Becker's littlest niece. The child was nearly four weeks early. Tiny, with wrinkled red skin hanging in loose folds, the baby didn't look like the chubby round cheeked babies Jess was used to seeing.

"She'll fatten up soon," soothed the night duty nurse. "She's a preemie, but she's healthy."

Jess entwined her fingers in Becker's.

"She's beautiful," whispered Jess. "And I especially like her name."

Becker snorted.

"I can't believe Lynnie did that," said Becker. His unconscious use of his big sister's childhood nickname was perhaps the only sign of his pleasure.

"Hillary Anne Stephenson is a lovely name!" replied Jess.

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

Jess and Becker weren't able to stay long. Jess was introduced to Gwendolyn's husband and they congratulated the new parents. But they didn't want to tire out Gwendolyn… and it was a long train ride back to London… and… Jess and Becker made their goodbyes.

"You'll have to come back soon," said Gwendolyn. "You still haven't met Mum and the girls."

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

Jess was leaning against Becker as the train pulled into London.

"We've been together for over a year now," said Jess "and I still haven't met your mother."

Becker helped Jess up from the seat.

"Well, I haven't met your parents either," reminded Becker. With a teasing tone to his voice, he added, "At least you've met all my sisters."

Jess stopped walking in front of the escalator.

"My parents are in Bruges this year," replied Jess, "and you've only got one sister."

"I'm just saying," teased Becker.

"Hmmph!"

Jess resumed walking. It wasn't until they got off the escalator at street level that she continued.

"You'll get to meet Alexandra and her family this summer," said Jess. "She told her husband when they got married that she didn't mind travelling all over the world for his job, but she wanted her babies to be born in England."

"Hmm," replied Becker. "Does Alexandra's husband have a name?

"Of course he's got a name," started Jess… then she realized Becker was teasing her again.

"I was beginning to wonder if he had one," said Becker with a grin "especially since you said she still uses her maiden name for her sculpture, and Marjorie…"

Jess raised both her hands and started laughing. Parker was not an uncommon name in England. Marjorie's husband was a nice guy named Sam… with the same last name … and Marjorie… was Marjorie Parker-Parker.

They walked back to Becker's flat hand in hand.

"Alexandra is looking for a nice place to stay this summer," said Jess.

"Does she like the beach?" asked Becker. "My family used to go to Brighton when I was a boy."

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