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

Double Wedding

Chapter Twenty Five- Surprises

Connor knocked on Lester's door, holding his latest incident report on the anomaly alert they'd just attended. He'd added some concerns he had regarding the closing devices and hoped Lester would sanction his proposal that he could spend some time (and ARC finances) on upgrading them. He wanted to concentrate on making them less bulky and fragile, meaning it would make it both easier to transport them to an anomaly and also quicker to set them up when needed.

"Come in." Lester responded to Connor's knock almost making him jump- he'd been reading over his proposal and had got a little engrossed.

"You er…you wanted to see me?" Connor asked, standing in front of Lester's desk.

"Yes, Connor, I just wanted to ask…oh is that your report? Just put it down there- I'll look at it later…I wanted to ask about the wedding. Do you know yet when you'll be needing me?"

"Oh!" Connor answered, surprised that Lester would ask him rather than Jess or Abby. "Yes, actually. We discussed the venue and the date last night as it happens. We thought June 16th would be cool, if that's OK with you. Gives us four weeks to sort out all the legal stuff and outfits, that sort of thing."

"Very good. I'll be sure to be free. Let me know the names of the staff attending and I'll rearrange the rotas."

"Well…er- I've got a copy in my pocket, although the invitations haven't gone out yet so it's not final…" he explained as he gave Lester the copy. Connor continued waiting as he was sure Lester wanted something else, but for once seemed to be hesitating.

"Connor- sit down for a moment." Lester began and stood up himself, beginning to pace up and down. "I wanted to ask…this isn't a criticism, but have you got a honeymoon planned?"

"Oh." Connor said again. "Er…no. Hadn't thought about it. Don't suppose we'll bother with one now that we've got a flat to pay for- well hopefully anyway!"

"That's what I thought. Now look, Connor, what I'm about to say is between us. I don't want it spread throughout the ARC. Understand?"

"Check. Between us. Not spread throughout…"

"You can tell Abby, of course, and I'll be talking to Becker as well later for the same reason, so that's fine." Lester interrupted.

"Er…?" Connor murmured, completely in the dark.

"I've known you for a long time now, Connor. When you first joined the team, you were an irritating student but you've come a long way since then."

"Thanks…I think!" Connor stuttered.

"I want to give you and Abby a gift. A wedding gift, you understand."

"Oh! There's no need…"

Lester raised a hand to silence Connor. He was finding this conversation slightly awkward as it was. He never liked showing his feelings to the staff, but Connor had become very close to his heart over the years, although he'd never admit it, and he wanted to give the young couple something for their wedding.

"You've both been through a lot these last few years so I'd like to pay for a honeymoon for you. I know a lovely island in the Caribbean where you'll be pampered and made to feel special. Unfortunately I can't let you have too much time off- not with Becker and Jess being off as well. Would a week be alright?"

"A wee…really? That's more than OK…that's…that's fantastic! Abby'll be so happy! How can we thank you…"

"There now, exactly why I didn't call Abby in too- no need to go soft on me, now! - I'll complete all the arrangements, all you'll need to do is pack and be ready to go. I'll make it for the Monday after the sixteenth so you will have the weekend free before you have to travel."

"Th...thank you, Lester! I…I don't know what to say!" Connor stuttered, offering his hand to the older man, feeling slightly overwhelmed. At the last moment, he pulled Lester into a quick hug and nodded to him as he released him and left the office.

Lester 'harrumphed' a little, looking around through the windows of the office to make sure no one had noticed. When he saw that nobody had seen Connor's action, the corners of his mouth twitched as he straightened his tie and cleared his throat.

"It's all good…all good…" he murmured to himself. He hoped Becker wouldn't hug him too when he told him he'd done the same for him and Jess…

~~oOOo~~

"So, Jess…you met Hilary at work, did you?" Mrs Becker asked.

Jess was sitting on the settee, a cup of tea in her shaking hands. The tea had been poured into a delightful bone china teacup, and Jess was frightened she'd break it or spill it as she clutched hold of the cup and saucer for dear life. She finally put it down on the coffee table, worried that the heat would leave a mark as there were no coasters on the table.

"Yes, that's right, Mrs Becker." she replied. "We work together."

"Elizabeth, my dear, do call me Elizabeth. Well, that's lovely isn't it? Working together, I mean. But you're not military, are you?"

"Oh no- I'm in administration and IT." Jess said.

"Ah. That explains it…Hilary's a good soldier, but he's not too great with computers, just like his father. I'm sure you help him with that aspect?"

"Yes that's right, Mrs…Elizabeth. I help him with his reports and inventories, that sort of thing."

Mr Becker sat in his chair observing his wife's interrogation. He was a quiet man, very much like his son in both appearance and manner. He held one of the cigars that Becker had brought him in one hand, and his cup of tea in the other. Jess had been a little afraid of him until at one point, when his wife asked about her age seeming a little surprised at her youth, he'd interrupted by spilling his tea supposedly by accident. Jess realised this was done as a ploy to protect her from further questioning when he turned to her and gave her a wink as Elizabeth admonished him for his clumsiness.

As the evening wore on, Jess began to feel right at home amongst Becker's family. She understood why Mrs Becker was quizzing her, but the kindly lady seemed to like her, she thought- maybe still a little concerned about the age difference, but Jess hoped that she was coming across as being more mature than she looked. Elizabeth had been very impressed when Jess had explained about attending university early, and getting such an important job, although of course she hadn't been able to explain exactly what sort of work she really did.

"So you two…" Elizabeth began. "Have you any plans for the wedding?" Becker and Jess looked at each other.

"Yes we have, mother. I wanted to discuss it with you and dad."

"Oh, how lovely!" Elizabeth enthused. "William, do you hear that?"

Mr Becker looked unfazed by his wife- he'd obviously heard what Becker had said, but he just nodded quietly in response.

"So, when were you thinking? Two years from now?"

"Er no, mother. Much sooner than that. We want to be together as soon as possible."

"A year then? There's a lot to arrange for a wedding."

Becker sighed. Here it was. Crunch time. He took a deep breath and moved behind Jess and put his hands on her shoulders. Jess looked terrified, but feeling comforted by the slight pressure on her shoulders, sat up a little straighter in her seat.

"Mother, dad- we're getting married in four weeks' time. The venue's set and…"

"Four weeks!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "But…You're not pregnant are you?" she blurted out to Jess.

"No!" Jess cried. "No! We…just want to be together! I…"

"It's impossible, Hilary! I can't possibly arrange everything by then!" Elizabeth butted in. Mr Becker just sat impassively in his chair, sipping his tea.

"Mother!" Becker cried. "Look- it's all arranged. We're getting married in four weeks' time on the rooftop of my flat. My boss- Mr Lester, you remember him? Well, he's marrying us with special dispensation from the Minister himself! Oh- and er…we're having a double wedding with our friends Connor and Abby."

"A doub!" Becker's mother just managed to splutter. "On the roof…William! Say something. Do something! No! Hilary, you can't do this to me- to us. It's just not seemly. Whatever will people think?"

"Mother-" Becker moved across to his mother and took her hands in his. "I'm sorry love, but I don't really care what people think. I love Jess, and Jess loves me. I'm in a very dangerous job. We don't want to waste time with 'niceties.' We want to spend our lives together. If anything should happen to me…"

At this, Jess cried "No!" but Becker ignored her little interjection.

"If anything should happen to me, I want to know that we hadn't wasted our lives- our time together because of what people would think." Becker's mother had tears in her eyes, but he wasn't sure if it was from his heartfelt speech or frustration at their plans.

"No, Hilary! I won't stand for it! I'm your mother! How could you embarrass me so!" she finally cried.

"Mother, please!" Becker began.

"Is this your idea?" she spat at Jess.

"Well, I..." Jess began hesitatingly in a small worried voice, looking at Becker.

Mrs Becker opened her mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by her husband, surprising them all.

"Mother…" William Becker said quietly but authoritively in his deep voice. "It's Hilary's choice. The wedding will be held in four weeks' time- the double wedding. And we'll be there, celebrating and supporting them both. Is that clear?"

"But, William…"

"Elizabeth, Hilary is a grown man. We must respect his wishes. It's his...and Jess' decision. I'll warrant no argument over this! Now, let's all have some more tea, shall we?" he added in a softer tone.

Elizabeth Becker pursed her trembling lips and looked as if she was going to argue further. As her husband looked directly at her, she suddenly turned away and began clearing up the cups.

"Yes, dear, you're right. It is Hilary and Jess' decision, of course. We'll talk more about it later, Hilary!" With that she left the room to arrange for more tea, her eyes bright with anger and unshed tears. Becker got the feeling the matter wasn't over as far as his mother was concerned.

"Well that went well!" Becker exclaimed, obviously meaning the exact opposite as he flopped down beside Jess. "Thanks, dad!"

William Becker looked at the serious young couple in front of him. "Don't worry, son." he said. "I'll work on it for you. I'm sure she'll get used to the idea…in time. It'll help that Mr Lester's got 'special dispensation from the Minister.' I'll be sure to point out the implications of that to her. Leave it with me!"

Becker sat quietly for a moment, a little upset about his mother, but it wasn't entirely unexpected- she was a little bit of a snob. He really didn't want to disappoint his parents but it was his wedding- his and Jess' and he wanted to call her his wife now- not in two years' time just to appear 'seemly' to the neighbours! His mother would come round, especially if his father was on his side- he was sure she would…eventually….

~~oOOo~~

"Abby! Abby!" Connor cried, rushing to the botany lab to tell her the good news.

Matt and Abby were standing beside a very unusual plant, writing their reports about their findings on its structure, and looked up as he bounded in. Matt looked a little annoyed at the interruption, especially as Abby and Connor had managed to avoid being reprimanded about their earlier indiscretion.

"Sorry, Matt." Connor said, backing up slightly. "Abby, may I have a quick word when you're free?" he added.

"Of course." she replied, frowning. "See you later, yeah?"

"Er…yeah." Connor told her and with a quick nod to Matt, completely backed out of the room.

Abby turned back to her work as Matt raised an eyebrow at her. "Sorry, Matt." she said, glancing back at the door quickly before once again turning back to the plant.

"Oh, go on then!" Matt said, exasperated. "Five minutes!"

"Thanks, Matt. I won't be long, I promise." Abby smiled and darted out of the room and literally bumped into Connor where he was impatiently waiting for her to be free.

"Connor!" she whispered snappishly. "We've already annoyed Matt this morning! What is it? Is it important?"

"No…yeah! Look, Abby." Connor drew her away from the doorway into the corridor. "Lester says we can't say anything to anyone- well except Becker and Jess, but he's giving us a gift when we get married."

"What? Really?"

"Yes! A whole week's holiday in the Caribbean! Think of it, Abby! Sun, sea and se…"

"Connor!" Abby laughed. "Wow! That's just…wow! I hope you thanked him from me too."

"Gave him a hug, didn't I!" Connor said gleefully. "Just from you!"

"Bet he loved that!" Abby giggled, glancing back towards the botany lab. "I'd better go. See you at six, yeah?"

"Yeah." Connor agreed, kissing Abby lightly on the cheek. "The sun isn't shining and we're not near the sea, but we'll be able to practice the se….What?" he quizzed as Abby playfully swiped his arm. "I'd better get back to the lab too. See you later."

They separated, still laughing, and returned to their jobs, but they both kept thinking about their wonderful gift from Lester. This was going to be their best year ever. Getting married, going on holiday and having their baby! They just couldn't wait….

To Be Continued

Poor Becker- and Jess, let's just hope Mrs Becker comes round in the end! And Jess still has to tell her parents too! I'm sure it will all work out well….won't it?