Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. 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.
10.1 Girls in White Dresses
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Saturday morning, Jess got up early. The high rise flat was already perfectly neat, but she just wanted to check everything once more. Her roomie had vanished before Jess even put the kettle on.
"You'll need some private time," said Beth, "besides I've got to go to the library… research and… and… stuff."
Jess chuckled as the door closed behind her young flat mate. Becker had said much the same thing last night.
"You and your sisters have lots to catch up on," the tall soldier murmured. His hands cupped her face as he kissed her goodnight. "I'll just stay at my flat tonight, besides… I've got something to do tomorrow."
"Hil, anybody listening would think you didn't want to see all my sisters," teased Jess as she reluctantly separated from Becker.
"Now you know that's not true," replied Becker.
And it wasn't, although Becker would be the first to admit that a gathering of the Parker women could be… somewhat overwhelming.
"It's just going to be crowded tomorrow, with your sisters," continued Becker, "two nieces, and two nephews all at once… and really, you don't need me for dress shopping."
"What are you doing while we're off looking at dresses?" asked Jess.
"Oh, just… flat stuff."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Marjorie arrived first, without the boys. She set her purse down on the counter and began to take off her coat.
"Where are Charles and Peter?" asked Jess in surprise.
"Sam's taking the boys to Madame Tussaud's today while we're all in London," Marjorie explained with a bright smile plastered across her face. "I didn't think they needed to come dress shopping."
Jess looked at her oldest sister in confusion. Marjorie's face was smiling, but the muscles were stretched tight as if she was forcing the smile. Before Jess could ask Marjorie what was wrong, Alexandra arrived with Phoebe and Ruth. Jess found herself serving biscuits and tea all around as they waited for Evie.
"So you and Hil finally agreed on a date," chuckled Alexandra.
"Yes," nodded Jess happily. "April 23rd…"
"Saint George's Day?" asked Evie as she entered the flat. "Oh that was an awful movie, I wouldn't have thought you and Hil would have seen it."
"What movie?" asked Jess. "Hil and I picked the day because… well..." Jess blushed and looked a little flustered. "Saint George has special meaning to Hil."
"Saint George slew a dragon with a sword," said Alexandra with a smile. "And the SAS emblem does contain a sword if I remember correctly."
"Yes, Excalibur," replied Jess with a nod, "wreathed in flames."
"April's a good month to get married in," commented Marjorie. She took another sip of her tea and added in a singsong tone of voice, "Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man."
"What?" Jess, Evie and Alexandra all turned to look at their oldest sister.
"It's just an old saying," explained Marjorie.
"Yet you got married in January," teased Evie.
"Married when the year is new," chanted Marjorie "he'll be loving, kind and true."
"Well you don't have to worry about that Jess," laughed Evie. "Hil's already loving, kind and true."
"I wasn't worried," protested Marjorie. She frowned as her sister chuckled. "Sam's loving, kind and true!"
"No one said Sam wasn't," soothed Alexandra.
Marjorie glanced from Alexandra, to Evie, to Jess, and beyond to the two little girls finishing up their tea.
"We should get going," snapped Marjorie. She rose to stand.
"We don't want to be late if we're to meet Becker's sister and her children at the shops," continued Marjorie, "and then I have to leave. I'm meeting Sam and the boys for an early dinner before we go back to Manchester."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Marjorie rode with Alexandra and the girls, while Jess and Evie followed behind in Jess's small car.
"Did Marjorie seem upset to you?" asked Jess.
"Marjorie's always upset about something," replied Evie.
"Something more than usual," mused Jess.
Evie tossed her auburn hair over her shoulder and looked at her younger sister.
"You really don't know?" asked Evie.
"Know what?"
"Why Marjorie is upset."
Jess stopped the car, thankful for the traffic light. She turned to stare at her sister. Jess and Evie were closest in age, and usually Jess felt she could read Evie's mind when they talked, but this time… Jess had a complete blank.
"Why is Marjorie upset this time?" asked Jess.
"She's feeling left out," answered Evie. "Marjorie still hasn't gotten over Alexandra's wedding. She wanted to be your matron of honor and you having all the little girls as bridesmaids put the quit to that idea."
"But, but… I asked her," spluttered Jess, "just like I asked you and Alexandra if you wanted to be in the wedding or not."
The car behind Jess started honking loudly and Jess pulled forward as traffic began to move.
"Marjorie wants you to be happy," continued Evie, "but she doesn't always say what she really wants."
"Then how is anyone ever going to know what she really wants?" asked Jess. A horrible thought crossed her mind. She glanced sideways at Evie. "Are you feeling left out?"
"Not as long as I get a piece of cake," replied Evie with a smirk. "And don't worry about Alexandra. She's not feeling left out either, especially not with both her daughters in the wedding."
A short while later, Jess dropped Evie at the entrance to the shops.
"Go ahead, join the others," Jess urged, "I've just got to park the car."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
"Calm down," replied Becker. He nodded at the real estate agent. "Would you say that again slowly?"
Becker listened carefully as Jess repeated her story. He made soothing noises as she rattled on, uh huh, mmm hmmm, and ummm… and as she finally stopped for a breath, Becker was able to speak a complete sentence.
"Well what have you seen done at other weddings to include people?" asked Becker.
His flustered fiancée mumbled something incoherent.
"My sister's wedding she had a friend sing a solo," said Becker. "Does Marjorie sing?"
"Oh God no!" exclaimed Jess.
They tossed a few other ideas back and forth a bit before Jess said she needed to go.
"I've got an idea to include the boys," said Becker. "Give me Sam's cell number, I'll meet them at the wax museum… you think about Marjorie. Ask if we can join her, Sam and the boys for dinner before they head back to Manchester. It will give you some more time."
"I thought you were busy today," replied Jess.
Becker leaned down and picked up the keys from the realtor's desk.
"Just finished really," replied Becker, "and Madame Tussaud's sounds unmissable."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Becker called William next.
"I've got a favor to ask," began Becker.
"Another one Hil?" chuckled Alexandra's husband. Becker's old friend from Sandhurst continued "I've already agreed to be your best man."
"Well would you agree not to be my best man?" asked Becker. He explained the dilemma and added, "and not be upset about it."
"Not likely that I'd be upset when I get to sit next to my lovely wife instead of standing beside your ugly mug," chuckled William. "Do what you need to do Hil."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Jess and Becker were walking hand in hand in a quiet residential neighborhood. They'd left Marjorie and her family at the train station.
"Just simple white dresses, and each girl gets to pick her favorite color for the sash," explained Jess in response to Becker's question, "but it's too soon to order now, the girls will grow lots in the next few months."
"And did you find a dress?" asked Becker with a lift of his eyebrows.
"I'm not telling," answered Jess with a laugh.
They walked on a bit further, then the silence was broken.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to go to Kensington Park," blurted out Jess.
After the shops, Alexandra, Evie and the girls had gone with Becker's sister and her family to the park. Jess and Marjorie had left them to meet Becker, Sam and the boys at Madame Tussaud's.
"Not a problem, and thanks for rescuing me," said Becker, "from the Chamber of Horrors and Screams. I was beginning to think we'd never leave."
They stopped at the corner, waiting for a sedan to pass.
"Asking Peter to be ring bearer and Charles to be your best man was just… just…," said Jess. She sighed and leaned against Becker's chest. "I know you didn't do it for her, but it really made Marjorie very happy."
"I thought it was your stroke of brilliance," said Becker as he looked down at Jess, "asking Marjorie to do a reading at the wedding."
Jess stood up on her tiptoes to reach his lips.
"Well maybe a little," murmured Jess as they parted, "but I told her no embarrassing stories.
"Now where's the fun in that?" protested Becker.
"Marjorie really thinks black suits are quite posh," said Jess. She hesitated a moment, and then asked, "Are you sure you don't want to wear your dress uniform?"
"God no," said Becker. "Getting married is way more important than work."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
At the next corner, Becker pointed to the right.
"But your flat's that way," replied Jess.
"Yeah," agreed Becker, "but there's something I want you to see over here."
The small home faced the park. There was a narrow driveway for one car, and a bit of garden space in the front.
"There's a bit more yard in the back," said Becker as he opened the door.
Jess walked inside the home. It was nowhere near the size of the high rise flat she lived in, but it was far bigger than Becker's tiny one bedroom flat.
"How many bedrooms?" she asked. Jess wandered through the downstairs living room, past the dining room and into the kitchen.
"Three," answered Becker.
Jess's lips curled up in a small smile.
"And it has a full bathroom upstairs and a partial bathroom off the kitchen," Becker continued. He hurried to move in front of her. "The realtor gave me the keys for the weekend, if you don't like this one we can keep looking."
"And if I do like this one?" asked Jess.
"I can paint the walls any color you like," breathed Becker.
-x-x-x-x-x-x