Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
Processional
"I don't need to talk to Helen Cutter's Aunt"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Matt went to Connor's lab early the next morning. The scientist looked up from the central processor and smiled a welcome, but the fingerless gloved hands kept moving over the keyboard as Connor continued inputting the commands needed to upload his data program.
"Did you read Lester's reports yesterday?" asked Matt abruptly.
"Yeah," Connor nodded.
"It doesn't matter if we can't figure out where Helen Cutter came from," declared Matt. "My Helen is not Helen Cutter."
"Of course not, she's a four year old," agreed Connor. Matt's next words startled the scientist.
I'm not going to let you do anything to harm little Helen," stated Matt. The man from the future glared at Connor. "Not even if you think it would undo everything Helen Cutter has done."
Connor quit typing. The scientist stared at the man from the future in shock.
"What? No! I don't want anyone or anything to harm little Helen," protested Connor. "And that's not how time travel works anyway… you can't change what's already happened."
"Of course you can change the past," argued Matt. "I came back and stopped the end of everything…"
The temporal scientist shook his head. Matt looked at the dark haired young man in confusion.
"Didn't we just save the world?" asked Matt. "What am I not understanding?"
Connor pointed to the monitor before him. Matt walked around Connor's desk to view the screen.
"Based on the data we retrieved during convergence," explained Connor. "I'm making an anomaly map of all the known anomalies."
The swirling colored lines on the tangled grid made Matt's eyes water. Connor rotated the image, showing a three dimensional view. To Matt's eyes, the screen looked like a starry night sky
"Interconnected natural anomalies spanning existence from bubbling lava in an Icelandic anomaly to the present," said Connor softly. "They're everywhere, lucky for us they don't usually all open at once."
Three black dots stood alone, not connected to the array of colorful lines. The scientist pointed to the first black dot.
"This is Philip's manmade anomaly to the future. Your world only later," stated Connor. The scientist pointed to the second black dot. "This is the racetrack anomaly. This also goes to the future you came from, but I'm thinking maybe earlier."
The scientist hesitated for a moment.
"Like maybe this is the anomaly you used to enter our world," said Connor in a rush.
Matt was surprised. The time traveler had only been a boy when he and Gideon entered this era. Matt had never told anyone how they had arrived.
"Yeah," agreed Matt. "So?"
Connor tapped the black dot on the monitor marking the anomaly.
"Philip's anomaly only connected to the prototype anomaly I made," explained Connor patiently. "And when we put the two together, they cancelled each other out."
The scientist looked at Matt expectantly. The man from the future continued to stare uncomprehendingly.
"You can't get there, from here," added Connor.
"Good," grunted Matt.
The scientist's slender finger moved to the second black dot.
"The racetrack anomaly was a naturally occurring anomaly," continued Connor. "At one time, the racetrack anomaly had at least two additional links, one to a military woman named Johnson's headquarters and another one to the cretaceous, but they're gone now."
Matt stared at the black dot. No lines connected the racetrack anomaly to any other anomaly.
"That's a good thing," said Matt. The team leader repeated Connor's earlier words. "You can't get there, from here. Right?"
Connor's eyes lit up and the scientist smiled.
"Yeah," Connor answered, "but that future still exists, you came from there."
Matt's eyes opened wide.
"Do you mean my time still exists?" asked Matt.
"Yeah, somewhere, or maybe somewhen is a better word," nodded Connor. "Or you wouldn't be here."
"So we didn't save the earth's future," groaned Matt.
"You saved this earth's future," insisted Connor. "Remember, when you told us about that other Matt? I told you that Cutter always thought there was only one timeline, but he was wrong."
"What do you mean?" asked Matt.
"We go forward in time, every day," explained Connor. "Changes to our reality, slowly, at a rate our minds can keep up with, we call it living."
Matt snorted. The man from the future didn't quite understand where the genius was going with this conversation. So life was time travel. So what?
"Going backwards in time," said Connor softly, "can create a different reality entirely. There are many different timelines… we know of at least one with Claudia Brown, and our own reality with Jenny Lewis."
"Lewis-Miller," reminded Matt. The two men chuckled together for a moment.
"And if a person goes backwards and forwards both," continued Connor waving his hand back and forth to demonstrate, then crossing his arms, "they might cross over into another reality."
"Like Cutter," mused Matt, "or that other version of me."
Connor nodded in agreement, glad that the team leader was finally understanding.
"But going back is not going to undo something that already happened here," said Connor, "Helen Cutter has already happened to this world. We can't undo that."
Matt leaned back against Connor's bookcase with a sigh.
"I was really worried you were going to say something weird like Helen was Helen Cutter and we had to stop Helen from going back in time," said Matt.
"Well yeah," replied Connor.
At Matt's sudden scowl, the temporal scientist tried to explain yet again.
"Not that Helen is Helen Cutter, at least I really hope not," said Connor, "but yeah, we need to keep little Helen in this time."
"You hope not?" asked Matt.
The scientist grinned and waggled his eyebrows.
"I hope," added Connor, "the only thing you'll have to worry about are all the boys that are going to be chasing after her as she grows up."
Matt rolled his eyes. The team leader tried to turn the conversation back to work.
"Do I need to worry about anything else?" asked Matt. "Like that third black dot on your map?"
"The future walrus anomaly?" asked the scientist. Connor began babbling excitedly. "I'm not really sure. Cutter only speculated that it was a future creature… we really don't know, it could have been some creature lost to the fossil record… so much soft tissue… and it really doesn't seem connected to anything… and then of course there could be new anomalies that we haven't found yet…"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
A week later, Jess opened the door of the dressing room just a smidgen to peek out. The chapel was filling quickly.
"Lester is coming this way," said Jess excitedly.
Connor ushered Lester's wife and children to sit next to Abby and Jack. Matt and his best man stood together at the front of the chapel. Jess swallowed at the sight of Becker. Becker's normal black attire was replaced by blue trousers and tunic coat adorned with multitudes of medals. The soldier even had a sword hanging near the red stripe at his side. The field coordinator's suddenly dry mouth opened and closed for a moment before she could continue speaking.
"Matt looks great," added Jess, deciding it wouldn't be polite to rave about the best man's attire. The team leader wore dark green bespoke suit with a red rose pinned to his lapel.
Emily tied the pale green ribbon on little Helen's dress into a fluffy bow. The four year old flower girl twirled happily in front of the mirror watching the full white skirt lift and swirl.
"Try to remember to walk down the aisle," reminded Emily. The child looked up at Emily. Her bright brown eyes shone happily as little Helen nodded.
In the chapel, the music changed. Lester knocked lightly on the door the edge of the door. Jess backed up a step to let the ARC's director inside. The field coordinator was lovely in a pale green dress. The bodice of the sweetheart neckline was made of ruched chiffon, while the layered chiffon skirt fell to the middle of Jess's calf. A tiny silver belt at the waist matched Jess's silvery shoes.
"Emily, are you sure you really want to marry this man?" asked Lester. The bureaucrat's green eyes tried to look stern, but Lester's lips curled up in a grin. Emily wore a fitted white dress. The bodice glittered with dozens of tiny white seed pearls, while the skirt flared out and fell to the floor in soft folds.
"I do," replied Emily.
"It's time," squealed Jess as a fanfare sounded.
Jess opened the door wider. The brilliant young woman knelt down. At eye level with little Helen, Jess pointed at Connor waiting at the top of the aisle.
"Just like we practiced," reminded Jess. The field coordinator pressed a small bouquet of miniature white roses and yellow coreopsis into the child's hands. "I'll be right behind you, and then Emily and Lester too."
The child started towards Connor. By the time Jess stepped out of the dressing room carrying a bouquet of red chrysanthemums, yellow coreopsis, and white roses, little Helen was skipping. Connor knelt down and whispered to the child pointing towards Matt and Becker. Little Helen started sedately down the aisle, but by the time Jess reached Connor, the child was skipping happily again. And by the time Lester escorted Emily down the aisle, Helen was clinging to Matt's leg. The child held on tight throughout the entire ceremony, but no one minded at all.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Matt and Emily stood by the door of the reception hall. The little round table for the bridal party was empty. Jess and Becker were on the dance floor. The couple swayed slowly in time to the music, oblivious to everyone else. Little Helen was sitting on Lester's left leg. The bureaucrat's right leg was occupied by his youngest child. The two girls were playing a hand clapping game.
"How long do you think before we can make our getaway?" asked Matt hopefully.
"Not long," chuckled Emily. "But first, I do have to toss my bouquet."
Matt looked at the fragrant cascade of flowers, red and white roses, chrysanthemums, coreopsis, baby's breath and sweet honeysuckle.
"Shame to throw that away," said Matt.
"It's for a good cause," smiled Emily.
The Victorian nodded towards their guests. Abby, Connor and Jack sat at the closest table with the Lester family. Abby's baby bump was noticeable now. Connor had his arm draped across the blonde's shoulder. Lester's boys were eagerly listening to Jack's loud talk about bike racing. The next tables were occupied by some of their friends from the ARC and Emily's friends from the library.
"There's only three single women," added Emily.
"Five if you count Helen and Lester's daughter," said Matt.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Little Helen raced up the stairs to the flat she now called home carrying the big bouquet of flowers.
"Wait up," called Emily.
"I've got to go," called the child anxiously. "Hurry."
Matt and Emily started climbing faster, following the little girl. The groom bent down to pick up some scattered rose petals as they reached the landing. Emily continued forward taking the keys out of her small sequined bag.
"I really thought Jess was going to catch the flowers," said Matt. "You've got quite an arm on you."
"I wanted Jess to catch the bouquet," admitted Emily with a sigh.
The flowers had bounced off Jess's outstretched fingertips, landing in little Helen's lap. The newlyweds reached the front door. Helen had her legs crossed and was twisting and squirming.
"Jess may not need to catch a bouquet," chuckled Matt as Emily opened the door. Little Helen raced inside the flat. "Did you see Becker's face when Abby's brother asked to cut in?"
Emily smirked. The Victorian wondered if her husband realized that he had the same expression on his face when Jack had asked her to dance. Emily walked inside the flat, crossing the living area, to the antique rosewood chair that she preferred to sit in when sewing. Her embroidery basket sat on the floor beside the upholstered chair. Emily tugged on the brass pull chain on the swag lamp. The corner lit up. Emily glanced at Matt.
"Husband," said Emily as she reached behind the tufted balloon back chair, "I've got a wedding gift for you."
The Victorian watched as Matt slowly unwrapped the crisp, multi-colored striped paper. The gasp Matt gave as he looked at her creation brought a smile to her lips. Matt looked up at her.
"It's beautiful," praised Matt.
The embroidered Home Sweet Home wall hanging he held in his hands featured nearly every stitch imaginable. Emily had adorned the fabric with as many different flowers and leafy plants as she could fit in.
"I didn't get you anything," sighed Matt.
"Yes you did," replied Emily. The Victorian spread out her hands. "You've given me a home."
The look in Matt's eyes made Emily realize her husband had seen the grand Victorian town home that Emily and Henry Merchant had lived in once.
"A home that I want to live in," stated Emily firmly.
"You've made this place a home," whispered Matt huskily as he stepped forward and pressed his lips against hers. "And you and Helen have given me a family."
Little Helen came running into the room then.
"Ewww," exclaimed the child. "More kissing?"
The newlyweds broke apart with a chuckle. Matt held up the wall hanging for Helen to see. Then he pointed to the kitchen.
"Would you get me a nail?" asked Matt. "They're in the top kitchen drawer."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Two weeks later, Matt and Emily both went to pick up Helen after infant school let out for the day. The teacher's administrative aide, Miss Sara Puess, was waiting.
"What exactly is the problem?" asked Matt.
"She's really quite bright," said the school official, "brilliant even. But we have rules."
The woman pointed to Helen's paper. A familiar brightly colored flower drawing was adorned with lettering. Matt's lips curled up with a grin. The letters were crooked, and the R was backwards, but otherwise Helen Anderson's name was legible.
"I'm sure we can work with her on the R," chuckled Matt.
"That's not her name," insisted the strict woman. Thin lips pursed in a tight little line. "She needs to write Helen Ambrose."
"Really?" asked Matt. The woman narrowed her eyes at him. Matt wondered if the woman had ever smiled.
"She won't even answer to the name Helen Ambrose," huffed the woman.
"The solicitor said the adoption paperwork should come through before Christmas," informed Emily.
"Then we can change her records," insisted the thin bony woman. "But for now she's still Helen Ambrose, not Helen Anderson."
"Really?" asked Matt again. The woman crossed her arms and nodded. Matt knelt in front of the little girl.
"Helen sweetie, just for school, just for a little while, until we get the papers all straight…," began Matt.
"Matt," objected Emily with a small frown. Matt leaned closer to little Helen.
"To make Miss Sourpuss happy," coaxed Matt, "will you answer to Helen Ambrose?"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Matt stopped at the teacher's office, while Emily followed Helen outside. Miss Tuttlemyer was not nearly as inflexible as her aide.
"Have her write Helen," said the nursery teacher. "We won't worry about last names just yet."
Matt hurried outside to join his family. Little Helen had been upset about the name Ambrose, but she had agreed to Matt's request. The SUV was parked on the far side of the car park. It was the only vehicle in the vast array of parking spaces. Matt heard Emily calling Helen to slow down. The child turned her head and called back to Emily, without slowing down. Matt watched as a familiar spinning, glowing image open up on the pavement in front of his daughter. The child ran straight into the anomaly.
"Helen!" screamed Emily. The dark haired woman raced forward into the anomaly after the child she loved. Matt ran too.
"Emily!" called Matt. "Helen!"
The anomaly snapped shut before Matt, leaving him standing alone on the black asphalt.
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