Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, nor does the Emperors song "Ready When I Say Go." This is fan fiction, not for profit.

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

A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54. A/N2: story takes place after Detour.

10.3 Important Stuff

…dream my way to you…

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

Jess's cell phone rang.

"Mmmph," yawned Jess as she reached a slender arm out from beneath the comforter. She patted her hand on the end table next to the sofa bed, finally finding the noisy device. Jess brought the phone to her ear. "Hello."

Jess squirmed out from beneath Becker's muscular arm and sat up straight pulling the covers with her. The dark haired man sleeping beside her rolled closer, reaching out in his sleep for Jess.

"Right Kate," replied Jess. Her eyes widened. "Right… twenty to thirty minutes."

Jess nodded as the voice on the other end of the cell phone continued talking.

"Um hmm," mumbled Jess in agreement. "No… no… no… don't rush! Drive carefully and we'll be ready when you arrive."

Jess snapped the phone shut. She looked at the Becker and nudged him.

"Hil," hissed Jess, "wake up! We've got to hurry and get ready for Hank and Gillian's wedding."

Becker had promised Jess that he would be in Sydney for the important stuff. And he had arrived Friday night in Sydney in time for Hank and Gillian's wedding. But neither Jess nor Becker had planned on sleeping in late on Saturday morning.

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

Becker finished buttoning up the dark purple dress shirt he'd bought last year to wear at the wedding of Jess's cousin Sophie. He tucked the shirt inside the soft gray slacks and fumbled at the buttons on his wrist. Jess stepped out of the bathroom at just that moment. Her breath caught at the sight of him. Becker looked up at her.

"Wow," said Becker. He was at a loss for words. Jess looked great. She always looked great, thought the soldier.

Jess smirked.

"Hil, I believe that's what you said last year when you saw me dressed for Sophie's wedding," Jess chuckled.

"Well then," replied Becker, "let me rephrase my statement."

Jess waited expectantly.

"Double wow," concluded Becker. "You look better and better every time I see you."

Her dark hair was pulled off to one side of her head, cascading in a long tumble of wavy locks over her right shoulder. The dress was a dark purple color that went well with Jess's skin tones, and matched Becker's dress shirt perfectly. The silvery piping at the neckline and hem of the dress, along with her silver and gray four inch heels complimented Becker's gray suit.

"Double wow to you too," said Jess with a smile.

She turned her back towards Becker. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her bare skin.

"Would you zip me up please Hil," asked Jess. "Kate and Evie will be here any minute."

"Gladly."

Becker stepped closer to Jess. He placed his hands on her hips and smoothed the fabric against her back. His fingers touched seam lines on either side of Jess's backbone. He ran his hands up her back. The soldier leaned in closer and kissed her bare shoulder, before he closed the hook and eye at the top of the zipper.

"Are these those princess seams you keep talking about?" asked Becker.

Jess was a little surprised at his question. She hadn't realized Becker was listening when she and her sisters had talked about dresses. Becker reached for the zipper and as he drew it up the length of the dress, he trailed gentle kisses up the side of Jess's slender neck.

"Yes," sighed Jess happily as she turned to face him and capture his lips with her own.

The kiss ended all too soon and Jess began to fasten the tiny buttons at his wrists. Jess looked past Becker to his black duffle bag. Clothes were strewn across the sofa bed, including the gray suit jacket that matched Becker's pants, but Jess didn't see a certain gray brocade vest with a subtle dark green leaf design woven into the fabric.

"Did you bring the vest?" asked Jess.

The expression on Becker's face answered the question before he did. Becker had only worn the brocade vest once, for a few brief minutes. It wasn't his favorite article of clothing.

"No," replied the soldier. "I didn't want to outshine the groom."

"No one's going to be looking at us Hil," teased Jess. "Most everyone's eyes will all be on Gillian… and maybe a few on Hank."

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

Hank and Gillian's wedding was in Centennial Park near the lily pond. The groom stood in the grass close to the water. Hank wore a dark blue suit. The city official that was to perform the wedding stood on one side of Hank. Hank's best friend and best man, a man nearly as big as Hank, stood on the other side of Hank.

"A civil ceremony?" whispered Becker to Jess.

"Hank's family is Catholic," replied Jess softly, "but Gillian's family isn't. They didn't want to offend either set of parents."

Becker nodded in understanding. Family and friends sat on white folding chairs in the grass near the walkway facing the pond. Behind Hank, black swans swam by. A harpist was off to one side of the little group softly stroking the strings of her instrument.

"Did Hank tell you why they chose the park?" the soldier asked.

He must have spoken a little louder than he intended because Kate heard. Jess's cousin leaned closer to Jess.

"Hank and Gillian used to come riding here a lot when they were first dating," whispered Kate. "He told me he proposed over by the pond."

Becker blinked. He remembered Hank buying a ring in Nice.

"I thought Hank proposed to Gillian in France last year," said Becker.

"That was when Gillian finally said yes," replied Kate with a grin.

The harpist began to play the wedding march. Everyone seated rose and turned to face the walkway. On the other side of the pedestrian bridge, Gillian's bridesmaid, her little sister, began to cross the water. The teenager looked lovely in a short pale blue chiffon dress. The bride, escorted by her father, followed. Gillian wore a white lace dress trimmed with pale blue ribbons. The bright smile on her face was matched by the smile on Hank's face as he awaited her.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and love of Gillian and Hank," began the man officiating at the ceremony.

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

Later that night, Becker followed Jess between the rows of seats on the aircraft that was to take them back to London. He took her carryon bag and stowed it overhead, then sat down next to her. Jess leaned against him tiredly.

"You didn't get to see any of Sydney," sighed Jess.

"We'll just have to come back some time," replied Becker. He reached his arm across her shoulder.

"I'd like that," said Jess. She blinked her eyes and yawned. "This wedding was the most beautiful wedding ever."

Becker's lips turned up in a smile.

"You say that about all the weddings," teased the soldier.

"They are all beautiful," replied Jess. "I especially liked the part where Hank and Gillian recited their own vows."

"Yeah," agreed Becker. "Although that part where Hank said tell the tiger he's a shark was a bit confusing."

Becker felt Jess's shoulders shake as she chuckled.

"It's from that song he likes," said Jess, "and the rest of the lyric is… we don't ever want to be apart."

"Oh," said Becker. He was quiet for a minute. "It makes sense when you know the song."

"Yeah," replied Jess. She gave a happy sigh and snuggled closer to Becker. "I think we should write our own vows too. Don't you?"

Becker's eyes opened wide.

"What?"

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