Title: Blinded by Love: Chapter 8

Warnings: Copius amounts of angst, hurt/comfort and fluffiness

Disclaimer: Primeval and it's characters belong to Impossible Pictures, no copyright infringement is intended.


The creature growled and snarled and it's fowl smelling breath made Abby feel sick.

"Abby!" Connor cried, running towards them.

"Stop Connor!" Becker shouted, lifting his gun.

The creature was huge, more than twice the size of Abby with grey leathery skin, pointy ears and long sharp claws.

Connor did as he was told, though it was hard not to run to Abby, she looked terrified and he was worried it would want to eat her too.

Becker's gun fired several times into the creature's head, the first couple bouncing off it's thick skin but some hit home causing blood to spatter onto Abby's clothes.

The animal climbed off Abby, staggered around for a moment in confusion and then fell to the floor.

"Abby! Oh God." Connor rushed to her side as she sat up.

"It's ok, I'm ok." She assured.

Becker stood by the creature to make sure it was well and truly dead.

"There's blood!" Connor gasped.

"It's not mine, I'm ok Connor."

She managed to muster up a smile, even though by now the adrenaline rush was wearing off and she was starting to shake.

Connor pulled her to him, shaking himself.

"I thought I'd lost you." He whispered into her neck.

"We need to make sure there are no more of these things about." Becker said.

Danny nodded.

"Call the Arc and get them to send more men. Connor, you need to go and lock the anomaly."

Connor stood, helping Abby back to her feet. She brushed the leaves and dirt from her clothes and began to follow him.

As she made her way through the trees with Connor, Abby felt a little niggling pain in her abdomen but thought nothing of it, she'd probably pulled a muscle when the creature landed on her. As she walked more however, the pain began to get stronger until it made her sweat. She grabbed a nearby tree and clung to it tightly, her other arm going around her stomach.

"Connor!" She gasped.

She got down onto her knee's and leant over, throwing up.

Connor turned around and ran to her.

"I knew that thing had hurt you."

She cried out in pain, it felt as though she was being kicked and punched repeatedly..

"We need to get you to the hospital."

He pulled his phone from his pocket but cursed when he saw there was no signal. They'd already moved away from the others. Connor shouted them, but they didn't seem to hear.

Abby writhed and groaned in agony, her face twisting and contorting.

"Abby, we need to go back to the farm and get help."

"I . . . I can't . . . I can't Connor." She cried.

"Sssh, it's ok." He soothed, stroking her damp face. "Put your arms around my neck."

She did as she was told and he lifted her off the ground. Abby clung to him as he carried her from the woods and across the farmers field. Trying to walk as quickly as he could and ignoring his own discomfort.

"Oh God! Stop Connor please!" She begged.

"I can't sweetheart, we're almost there now."

He continued his journey, holding Abby tighter and whispering words of comfort to her. When the farmhouse was finally in sight he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's ok now baby, we're here."

He placed her down in the courtyard and pounded on the farmers door.

"Please, call an ambulance." He yelled when the farmer popped his head out of an upstairs window.

The farmer took one look at Abby on the floor covered in the creature's blood and disappeared to make the call. The front door opened and his wife ran out to join Connor.

"Bring her inside out of the cold love." She said softly to Connor.

Abby's face was white now, her lips grey and her skin was covered in beads of sweat. He picked her up again and carried her inside, laying her carefully on the sofa. As Connor placed her down, he noticed a fresh bloodstain on her trousers between her legs. What had that thing done to her? She must be bleeding internally.

"Tell me where it hurts baby."

"My stomach." She managed, grabbing his hand and squeezing it tightly.

"Ambulance is on it's way." The farmer said as he entered the room.

"You hear that babe? Help is coming, everything's going to be fine." Connor said as he knelt beside her and stroked her hair.

He was saying it to calm himself as much as he was her, he was terrified. What if she had lost lots of blood? What if the ambulance took ages to arrive? They were in the middle of nowhere.

Abby let out a little cry of pain and Connor noticed that the bloodstain between her legs was bigger.

"Oh Abbs, come on love."

He pulled her to him, rocking her back and forth, completely unaware of the tears which now flowed down his cheeks.

There was the sound of sirens in the distance and the farmer ran out to meet them, returning a few minutes later with the paramedics.

"What happened?" One of them asked.

"An animal fell on her." Connor explained, his voice sounding distant. "She got up, she was ok and then . . . "

The farmer's wife put her hand on his shoulder as the paramedics lifted a whimpering Abby onto a stretcher.

"She'll be ok now love." She soothed. "She's in good hands."

Connor followed Abby out into the courtyard.

Sarah, Danny and Becker were just returning from the woods.

"Abby!" Sarah exclaimed, running towards the ambulance.

"What happened?" Asked Danny.

"That . . . thing that landed on her, it must have hurt her . . . I don't know."

"Did you lock the anomaly?" Asked Becker.

Connor just shook his head, still staring after Abby who was being assessed in the ambulance.

"Right, Sarah, go and lock it up."

"Izzie . . . " Connor said suddenly. "She needs collecting from nursery at four thirty."

"It's ok Connor, I'll go." Sarah offered. "You need to be with Abby. I'll bring Isabelle to the hospital."

Connor just nodded, looking shocked and distant and climbed into the back of the ambulance, holding Abby's hand.

"We've given her something for the pain." One of the paramedics said. "She's a little drowsy."

Anything was better than seeing the pain she had been in moments before.

*****************

Connor had been in the waiting area at the hospital for three hours now. The last he'd heard, they were sending Abby for a scan to check for internal damage and then for some X-Rays but he hadn't heard anything for at least an hour.

He was sick with worry and didn't understand why they wouldn't let him see her. He just wanted to see her face, hold her hand, tell her how much he loved her. Oh God he hadn't told her he loved her for days, what if something terrible happened? He started to hyperventilate and sat down taking deep breaths.

"Mr Temple?"

He looked up to see a doctor stood by him.

"Yeah."

"You are with Abby Maitland yes?"

Connor stood up nervously.

"Yeah, yeah I am. Is she ok?"

"She's asking for you."

He heaved a sigh of relief, that was a good sign right?

"I thought you should be together when I tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"You are her partner?"

"Yes, wait, tell her what?"

He started to panic again but the doctor just walked away.

"Doctor what's wrong? Is she ok?"

Connor followed the doctor all the way to Abby's room, but he wouldn't answer any more of his questions. Upon seeing Abby, he hurried to her side, holding her hand.

"Are you ok love?"

"Yeah, I feel much better."

"Thank God for that."

He kissed her forehead softly and sat on the bed beside her, both looking expectantly at the doctor.

"Well, we did a scan to asses the damage done by your fall and we found something unexpected."

They both swallowed, worried about what the doctor might say next.

"Miss Maitland, you're pregnant."

Abby looked at him in shock and Connor coughed and spluttered.

"Pregnant? . . . But we haven't . . . I mean, aside from this week . . . It's been a while."

Connor's face reddened at his confession.

"About seventeen weeks ago?" the doctor asked.

Connor and Abby both nodded, still in shock.

"But I don't understand, I've still been having my period." Abby said.

"It's common for a woman to have a regular but lighter bleed when they're pregnant." The doctor informed.

"Oh."

Connor's brain suddenly started working again.

"But the fall, all that blood, is the baby ok?" He asked.

"Well, that's where the news turns bitter sweet I'm afraid."

Connor felt Abby clutch his hand tighter.

"It looks like you were carrying twins."

"Were?" Abby whispered.

The doctor nodded.

"It could have been the fall, there could have been other factors, your blood pressure is a little high."

"So what are you saying?" Connor asked in confusion.

The doctor opened his mouth to explain but Abby got there first, turning to look at Connor.

"He's saying I was carrying twins and now I'm carrying one."

"We . . . lost one?"

Abby nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. She wasn't sure how she felt about this, just the fact that she was pregnant was shock enough and four months gone too, how hadn't she noticed? She had had a lot on her mind, what with her and Connor's relationship problems. And then there was little Izzie, she was still so young, now she was going to have to share her Mum and Dad with a baby brother or sister.

But she'd lost a baby, suffered a miscarriage thanks to that horrible creature from the future. Her feelings were all over the place and she wasn't sure whether she should be happy or sad.

"This baby . . . " She began, her voice hoarse. "Will it be ok?"

"We need to keep you in for a few days, keep a close eye on you but the scan showed a healthy steady heartbeat, the foetus is not in any kind of distress."

"Thank you." She said.

She looked at the clock, half past five.

"Izzie!" She exclaimed.

"It's ok, Sarah's got her."

She let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

"You have another child?" The doctor asked looking confused.

"Isabelle, she's fourteen months." Connor replied proudly, smiling as he pictured her sweet face.

"She's adopted." Abby added quickly.

The doctor smiled sweetly at them in understanding.

"Right, I'll leave you to rest."

When the doctor left, Connor frowned at Abby.

"Why did you tell them Isabelle was adopted?"

"She kind of is."

"Yeah but she's ours."

"I know that and you know that Connor but the doctors will have been able to tell from all the tests and examinations that I haven't given birth before."

"Ah! Good thinking."

Connor felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out to read the text message.

"Sarah's here with Izzie, you up to seeing her?"

Abby's face lit up.

"Always!" She replied.

"I'm just going to collect her from Sarah then."

He went to the door but just as he reached it, Abby called out to him.

"Connor?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't say anything to Sarah, not yet, I just need to . . . "

"It's ok, I wasn't going to. I'll just tell her you lost some blood and now you're ok."

Abby smiled at him and he walked back in, kissing her softly before leaving for Izzie.

When Connor had gone, Abby's thoughts went into overdrive, she was pregnant, she had a tiny life growing inside her. She just hoped that it was going to stay there until it was ready to come out. She'd missed out on this with Izzie, at the time she had seen it as a good thing, no big belly and swollen ankles, no backache or contractions; just an instant family. Now however, she realised that she wanted this more than anything in the world and the loss of the other baby suddenly hit her. Abby's arms went protectively around her stomach as tears streamed down her face.

"Please stay strong." She whispered.

She wiped her tears away, she didn't want Isabelle to see her upset. Abby was just fluffing her pillows when she heard Connor coming down the corridor making aeroplane noises.

Izzie's head popped round the door and Abby grinned.

"Mummy!"

Connor brought her in, placing her on the bed next to Abby.

"Hello there baby girl." Abby greeted, holding her tight. "Did you have a good day a nursery?"

"Yep. Paint."

"You paint a picture?"

Isabelle nodded, then frowned.

"Poor Mummy." She said. "Mummy sick."

"Yeah, but I'm feeling much better now Izzie."

"Awww, poor Mummy."

Something suddenly struck Connor. Isabelle had said the same when Abby had fallen asleep on the sofa. Had she known even then that Abby was pregnant? Not so much known the actual reason but picked up on the subtle changes in Abby, her tiredness and headaches.

"Izzie, Daddy's going to take you home and Mummy's got to stay at the hospital so the doctors can look after her." Connor explained.

"Mummy home!" She pouted.

"I can't sweetheart." Abby cooed. "I've got a poorly tummy and the doctors are making it better."

"Ok." She sighed, sounding more like fourteen than fourteen months. "Hug!"

She threw her arms around Abby.

"We don't have to go yet baby." Connor said. "We can stay and talk to Mummy for a little while."

"Yay!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands.

While they sat and chatted, playing games with Isabelle, Abby thought more than once about telling Izzie about the baby but she wanted to make sure everything was ok first, she'd wait till they were all home together.

***************

The few days at the hospital turned into two weeks. The doctors had been concerned about her blood pressure, but it finally went down and Abby had been allowed home.

They gave her a picture of the baby and what struck Abby was that it was so perfectly formed. You could see it's head and body, little arms and legs, tiny little nose.

Abby and Connor sat down with Izzie on Abby's knee and explained that there was going to be a new arrival.

"Izzie" Abby began. "Do you remember how Mummy was sick and had to go in the hospital?"

"Mummy no!" She cried. "Stay."

"Oh, darling, she's not going anywhere, it's ok." Connor soothed, stroking her ebony hair.

Abby got the picture of the baby out and gave it to Isabelle.

"Mummy's going to have a baby sweetheart." Abby said softly.

"Izzie Mummy's baby?"

"You'll always be my baby." She replied, kissing her head.

"You get to be a big sister Iz." Connor said. "You can look after the baby and make sure it's safe."

"Play?"

Abby chuckled.

"Yes, you can play with it when it's a little older."

Isabelle looked at the piece of paper curiously, turning it around and shaking it. It didn't look much like a baby.

"Baby?" She asked. Where Mummy's baby?"

Abby touched her abdomen, rubbing is affectionately. She was beginning to show, but it wasn't noticeable if you didn't know what you were looking for.

"It's in Mummy's tummy." Abby explained.

Isabelle poked her stomach.

"Why?"

"It has to grow in there for a little while, then when it get's big enough, it comes out of Mummy's tummy."

"How?"

Connor and Abby exchanged looks, they didn't want to go into too much detail, but the little girl always wanted to know everything.

"Mummy pushes it out." Connor said, worrying that she was going to ask how or worse, where the baby came from.

"Ok." She said cheerily.

She pushed herself off Abby's lap and toddled off to find her giraffe.

"Well that went better than I expected." Connor stated.

Abby nodded in agreement.

"Abbs, I've been thinking."

"When are you not thinking Connor?" She asked, smiling as she watched Izzie play with her favourite toy.

"Good point, but no, I was thinking that with the baby coming and everything that we need a bigger place."

Abby made a face.

"I know how much you love this place babe, and I love it too but we need to think of the kids. What if it's a boy? We can't have em sharing."

It was strange to Abby for Connor to be sounding so practical, strange to hear him say 'kids' as well. Not child, not just Izzie but little bump too.

"It's not that, this place is great for Rex, lets him stretch his wings."

"Well we can find another house with big high ceilings, but one with three bedrooms."

She nodded, he was right of course but that didn't make her feel any better about leaving this place behind.

*****************

As luck would have it, Becker knew someone who was selling a place, a barn conversion which definitely had the high ceilings and four bedrooms too! Abby had joked that this meant they could have another baby after this one and Connor had paled visibly.

By the time they had moved in, Abby was eight months pregnant and so she had to leave most of the decorating to Connor.

He decided to surprise her by decorating Isabelle's new room. She was getting a big girl bedroom, since she found out about being a big sister everything was 'I'm a big girl'.

Abby came up the stairs to wake Izzie from her nap. She was sleeping in their room whilst hers was being decorated. As she walked past, she caught sight of the most vile colour she had ever seen. She walked in, looking at the room.

Abby looked at the two pink stripes and cried out loud "Connor! You idiot!"

It was the brightest pink, almost psychedelic and what made it worse was that she was sure that Izzie would love it if she saw it.

"It's a bit much isn't it?" He grinned.

"A bit? I need my sunglasses! Get it covered up before Izzie sees it."

Once Izzie was fed and watered, Abby made Connor take her shopping so they could choose the colours for Izzie and bump's room's together.

They chose a neutral lemon and pastel green for the baby's room, and pale pink and the same lemon for Isabelle's. Abby made sure that she kept popping her head round the door and checking he was doing a good job and that all traces of bright pink had been eliminated.

When she came down the stairs after her third trip, she smiled. All three prehistoric creatures and Izzie were asleep, snuggled up on the couch.

*****************

It was three weeks later when Abby was awoken in the middle of the night by a sharp pain rippling across her abdomen. Then she noticed she was wet, her waters had broken. Abby reached for Connor's form only to find him absent from their bed. Oh God where was he? She needed him.

"Connor." She called out. "Connor!"

A contraction hit and she gritted her teeth, breathing heavily.

"It's ok babe, I'm here."

"You're dressed!" She stated in confusion. Why was he dressed at three in the morning?

"You were fidgeting more than normal in bed, so I was keeping a close eye on you." He explained. "Then I felt your waters break so I got dressed, got your bag ready and phoned Sarah to come and stay with Izzie."

She smiled warmly at him, he really was amazing sometimes. Just when she thought she had him figured out, he'd do something to surprise her.

"C'mon, lets get you out of those wet things and then we can be ready for when Sarah arrives."

He helped her to change into a loose fitting nightshirt she had bought especially for this occasion and then walked with her to the living room, sitting her on the sofa.

The doorbell went moments later and Connor let Sarah in, telling her the ins and outs of Isabelle's routine before leaving with a groaning Abby.

Once they had gone, Sarah pottered around. She couldn't sleep because she was too excited, she kept having to stop herself from calling the hospital for any news. She washed Abby's sheets, cleaned up in the kitchen and had a nosey at the new baby's room.

At six thirty on the dot, Izzie woke up asking for her Mum. Sarah explained that she had gone to the hospital and at first the little girl cried but then when Sarah told her they'd be coming back with the new baby, she soon settled.

Isabelle and Sarah watched TV and had breakfast and by ten o'clock there was still no news. Izzie turned to Sarah clutching Giraffe tightly.

"Baby yet?" She asked

"No, not yet sweetheart."

"Ok." She replied.

Sarah was getting a little concerned, she knew these thinks took time, but still. She was just about to pick up the phone when it rang.

"Hello?"

"Sarah?" Came Connor's emotion filled voice from the other end. "Awww it's brilliant." He gushed.

It was obvious he had been crying.

"We've got a little boy, a beautiful little boy. Seven pounds nine ounces."

"Awww Connor that's great, congratulations."

At the mention of her Dad's name, Izzie got up and ran over to Sarah.

"Daddy Daddy Daddy Daddy." She sang happily.

"Is Abby ok?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah fine, just tired and sore."

"Mummy Mummy!"

"I think someone wants to speak to you." Sarah said, chuckling.

She handed the phone over to Izzie who immediately started babbling, then she exclaimed "Yay!" And dropped the phone, clapping her hands and jigging around.

On the other side of the phone Connor laughed as he heard his little girl. He said his goodbyes to Sarah and then rushed back to Abby's side.

She was feeding their new son and he moved up, kissing her lips and then the baby's head. They really were the perfect little family now, one of each.

"I love you Abby, I'm so proud of you."

She had done the whole thing with only gas and air for pain relief. He'd almost passed out from the pain of her crushing his hand and she had pushed a whole person out of her.

"I love you too."

"I can't wait to show him to Izzie."

"Me neither."

"Abby?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you marry me?"

She looked at him in shock but then smiled, reaching out to him.

"I thought you'd never ask."


The End