Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.

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

"…in this world…"

3.11 Temporally Displaced (ABCDU)

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

In November, Jess was still trying to convince Becker that age didn't matter. Becker appeared to be still hung up on her apparent youth.

"I don't want to take advantage of your innocence," Becker told her.

"Inexperience doesn't mean I don't know what I want when I see it," Jess replied.

"Inexperience…?" Becker repeated.

"I'm of age," Jess reminded him, "old enough to make my own decisions."

Jess wanted to go away for a weekend, just the two of them. Becker finally agreed to a day trip to Sussex. Becker splurged and rented a small car from the local Thrifty rental dealer, because of course it wasn't just the two of them... they decided to bring Stella and Lindy. Becker and Stella arrived early in the morning in front of Jess's flat. She was waiting outside, dressed in blue jeans, a red blouse, a smart white jacket and dark blue trainers. One hand held a hamper, blankets draped over her arm. The other hand juggled a cup and a leash. Lindy was zigzagging around Jess excitedly.

"Here," said Jess. She handed Becker a mug of coffee of coffee through the open driver's side window. "Take this before I spill it and open the boot please."

"Thanks," replied Becker.

He accepted the cup gratefully and flipped the latch, popping the boot open. Jess settled the huge hamper and picnic blankets in the boot. Then she bent down and scooped up Lindy. Jess climbed into the passenger seat, and flashed a bright smile at Hil as she buckled her seat belt. She had Lindy sitting in her lap, while Stella was stretched out across the tiny back seat of the compact car.

"This is going to be so much fun," Jess commented excitedly. Becker pulled the rental car away from the kerb. "Road trip!"

They followed the highway south, leaving London behind. Jess enjoyed watching the changing scenery. This November was unseasonably warm, more like September weather. The bright blue sky and golden sunshine filtering through the countryside as they passed into the South Downs region was beautiful. It wasn't until Becker turned west onto the A27, that she spoke.

"You grew up around here," said Jess with a smile.

She and Sarah, along with Claudia and Lester, knew that Abby, Connor, Becker and Danny were from another time line. Becker had shared more of his personal life with her, just as she had told him of her family and upbringing.

"Yeah, Worthing," replied Becker. "You seemed interested in the area when I talked about it. I thought it would make a nice day trip… a lot of people say this area should be a national park."

Jess raised her eyebrow at his comment. She remembered doing an internet search on the town he grew up in. She thought the towns name… associated with the word worth, meaning valiant one… was an entirely appropriate place of origin for the man sitting beside her. The fact that the surrounding area was known for an iron age hill fort and flint mines… a source of axe and knife blades… dating back to the stone age, was also interesting. But… Jess was mainly interested in Hilary Becker.

"The countryside is beautiful," agreed Jess.

They stopped at a public access park near the town to walk the dogs. It felt good to get out of the car and stretch their legs.

"Ooh," squealed Jess "let's go down by the water."

By the time they reached the sea, they'd both taken off their shoes and rolled up their pants. The dogs splashed in the tiny waves lapping the shore. Becker and Jess left their shoes on the beach and continued walking, dodging the waves and talking. By the time they met another woman walking a large black standard poodle they were holding hands.

"Oh," gasped the other woman's voice. One hand moved to cover her mouth in astonishment.

Becker and Jess stopped walking. Jess released Becker's hand and pulled Lindy's leash back. She scooped up the small dog. Stella and the poodle were sniffing each other in a doggie greeting. Jess glanced at Becker, surprised that he hadn't ordered the German shepherd to sit. That was when she realized Becker was staring at the owner of the poodle.

"You look so much like my late husband," the older woman's voice said "when he was almost thirty."

Becker swallowed, but didn't speak.

"Maybe you're related somehow," suggested Jess. She introduced herself and Becker. "This is my boyfriend Hilary Becker and I'm Jessica Parker… but I prefer just Jess. What's your name?"

The older woman's last name was Becker too.

"We probably are related," agreed Becker as they walked with the woman to her car, "but I don't really know a lot about my father's side of the family… he died when I was very young."

Mrs. Becker was parked near the picnic pavilion. There, the older woman introduced her daughter Gwendolyn and her three granddaughters to the nice young couple from London. Jess and Gwendolyn immediately hit it off. The three little girls adored dogs. Soon they were all headed back to the water's edge, leaving Becker sitting on the bench next to the woman who would have been his mother in another time and place. He found it easy to talk to her.

"Anyone with eyes can see she adores you," said Mrs. Becker. She looked at the young man who reminded her of another striking young man she'd known long ago. "And I think the feeling is mutual…"

"God yes," answered Becker. "I love her… and I don't want to do anything… that would ever hurt her."

Mrs. Becker's eyebrows went up.

"How could you ever hurt her?" asked the woman.

"Well… I'm a good bit older…," began Becker.

Mrs. Becker's laughter interrupted him. The older woman's face crinkled as laugh lines wrinkled around her eyes and her mouth. Sagging jaw muscles shook with merriment.

"You're both so young!" she exclaimed. "As long as you are both over the age of consent, age really doesn't matter."

At Becker's questioning glance, she continued.

"My husband said almost the same thing," she explained with a smile. "I met my husband when I was sixteen. He was nearly thirty. It took me two years to convince him that I was serious about him."

"Really?" Becker asked.

"He used to joke that I would trade him in for a younger model someday when he got old and gray, but that never happened," said Mrs. Becker sadly. "We got married, had Gwendolyn… I quite liked having him around... and then he was gone."

Becker glanced at the shore. Jess was splashing through puddles with Gwendolyn's youngest daughter and Lindy. He blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to clear the sudden tears from his eyes.

"I don't ever want to cause Jess pain like that," he said in a even tone, once he'd regained control of his voice.

Mrs. Becker looked at the young man beside her. She had thought he was worried about the age difference between himself and Jess, but maybe it was more than that.

"I have a lot of wonderful memories, a lovely daughter, grandchildren," she said carefully. "I wish I'd had more time with my husband… I'm greedy like that… but I've always been glad of the time we did have together."

Becker nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak.

"Love doesn't come along as often as we'd like to think," Mrs. Becker continued. "It's rare. If you tell Jess what you're worried about… well, she's a smart young woman. I'm sure she'll know what to do."

Jess and Hil spent the rest of the day at the shore with the Becker family. Becker went back to collect their shoes and bring the rental car around to the picnic pavilion. The contents of the picnic hamper were eaten. And by late afternoon, when the breeze started to pick up and turn chilly, it was time to return to London. Halfway back to London, Becker took his mother's advice.

"Jess, it's not just the age difference," he said "if anomalies do start opening in this world… the creatures… they're dangerous… and if we go back to our time…"

"Go back?" exclaimed Jess. "What are you saying?"

"We don't really belong here," responded Becker.

"Don't be ridiculous!" exclaimed Jess "We need you here! Your time… it has Lester, Cutter, Jenny, Sarah, Stephen, Ryan…"

She rattled off the names of his friends that he'd told her about. Jess shook her head.

"We've got Lester," she concluded, "and Sarah here, but we don't have any of the others."

The rest of the ride was in silence. When Becker pulled the car up in front of Jess's flat, she looked at him.

"You and Stella should come in," Jess said as she climbed out of the passenger seat carrying Lindy. "And bring the hamper and blankets please."

Becker didn't have time to disagree before she was through the front door. He turned off the car, and grabbed the stuff from the boot. He and Stella entered Jess's flat. She was at the kitchen sink, filling water bowls for the two dogs.

"Jess," Becker said softly.

He set the hamper and blankets down beside the door and pushed it shut behind him. Stella bounded across the room and started lapping water from the dish Jess set on the floor. Jess gave Stella and Lindy a quick pet, and then rose to stand. She turned to look at him. Her bottom lip was trembling, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Love doesn't always last," she said "Sometimes people die… or the love dies… I know that. And I know you have to do something with these anomalies… when… or if… they happen. I understand that."

Becker nodded. He didn't know what to say.

"But I love you," continued Jess "and if I'm going to lose you somehow, I'd rather have the memories… I want… I need…"

Becker stood still as Jess walked across the room towards him. She put both hands on his chest, then began to slide her right hand up across his shoulder, up the side of his neck, to the back of his head. She pulled his head down towards her face. Her lips were parted as her mouth met Becker's. His tongue met hers, twisting, thrusting, exploring delightfully as they had done so many times before.

This time, when they finally broke apart to breathe, and Jess tugged his hand, he followed her into the bedroom, where they both found everything they could ever want or need.

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

December found Abby and Connor living alone in the cozy flat near the park. Becker and Stella were living with Jess and Lindy. Danny had moved in with Sarah. But the New Year's Eve party was going to be at their place.

"Yeah," agreed Abby as she talked to Claudia "we'll be back in time for New Year's Eve… don't start the party without us."

Connor had finally saved up enough money for the special something. And last night he'd surprised Abby with it.

"Mrs. Maitland," Connor whispered as he came up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding a small beribboned box and an envelope out in front of her. She leaned back into his embrace, reveling in the feel of his body against hers.

"What's this?" Abby asked.

"Open it," replied Connor.

"Which one first," asked Abby in a teasing tone, "the envelope or the box?"

"Your choice," whispered Connor as he brought his lips close to her ear.

Abby opened the envelope first. The paper inside showed reservations for a weeks stay at the Clansman Hotel in Loch Ness, Scotland. Opening the box made Abby gasp. The sparkling bright white marquis cut diamond was flanked on either side by bright blue sapphires. The engagement ring was matched by a wedding band encrusted with alternating tiny white diamonds and blue sapphires.

"Proper rings and a honeymoon," whispered Connor "for my beloved wife."

Abby was speechless. Connor got nervous with her silence.

"Of course," he said "if you don't want…"

"No," said Abby. She turned in his grasp to face him. "It's perfect! The rings… the honeymoon… I…"

Abby might not have known what to say, but she did know how to make her feelings known. She brought her hands to either side of Connor's face and pulled his head down towards her. Their lips met eagerly. They parted breathlessly. Abby held out her left hand towards Connor, fingers spread wide. She offered him the box in her right hand.

"Would you please put them on?" she asked.

Connor nodded happily and took the box. He knelt before her and slipped the wedding ring on first, followed by the engagement ring. He looked up at Abby.

"The hotel… they do weddings and anniversary parties," he explained hesitantly "and renewal of vows… I told them we might want to do that."

Abby nodded happily.

"Yeah Conn," she agreed "I'd love to say our vows."

A bright smile filled his face. He rose quickly, scooping Abby up in his arms.

"What are you doing?" she squealed, laughing.

"I'm carrying you across the threshold to the bedroom," he replied, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

Abby and Connor had a rental car for the long drive up to Loch Ness. When they heard Beth Temple needed a ride home, they offered to give her a lift. Bradford wasn't that far out of the way. Abby and Connor dropped Beth off at her parent's house. Mr. and Mrs. Temple met them and thanked them for bringing their daughter home. The Temples invited Connor and Abby to stay for dinner, but understood their hurry to go north.

"Stop by on the way back," encouraged Mrs. Temple "we'd love to see you again."

"And watch out for Nessie," chuckled Mr. Temple.

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