Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, nor does the lovely poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 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.
10.5 Kisses in the Rain
…getting married next week…
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Thursday night, Becker pushed the DVD into the machine. The musical Funny Girl was one of Becker's collection of classic movies. As the opening credits scrolled across the television screen, the tall man returned to the sofa. Becker sat down gingerly. Jess smirked as the soldier carefully settled back against the cushions with a sigh of contentment. She scooted across the evergreen cushions to sit closer to her fiancé. The soldier wrapped his arms around her.
"The house is quiet," said Becker softly.
For the first time since Jess's hen night festivities, the couple had their home to themselves. Jess's sister Alexandra and her family had left earlier this morning to join Jess's parents at Granny Parker's. The older woman's big sprawling home was just a few miles from the coast. One of Jess and Becker's reasons for deciding to have the wedding at Sandsfoot Castle was the location near the elderly woman's home.
"Just for tonight Hil," reminded Jess. "Tomorrow morning…"
"I know," interrupted Becker. He gave Jess a wry grin. "Tomorrow the invasion of Sandsfoot Castle begins."
Jess's lips curled up in an answering grin. Nearly a year ago, the soldier had teasingly referred to the meticulous coordination of wedding plans as a military tactical assault. It had since become a private joke between the two of them.
"Tomorrow morning," Jess continued, "we both have off from work and there are a lot of things to do."
Becker nodded in response. He reached for the remote control intending to turn up the volume so they could hear the movie.
"Do you really want to watch a movie tonight?" asked Jess.
Becker paused. Unwinding with a movie and a cuddle on the sofa after dinner at the end of the work week was one of the couple's little routines, but really, there was only one thing Becker wanted to watch. Jess. The soldier clicked the stop button.
"Not especially," breathed Becker in response.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Friday morning Jess and Becker woke early. Becker was in the shower squeezing the black tube of body wash. The last drops were starting to come out when Jess opened the shower door. The soldier grinned and stepped back to make room for his bride-to-be.
"Let me," said Jess "turn around."
Becker handed the body wash and loofah to Jess. He turned away from her as she squeezed the last drops out onto the loofah. Jess inhaled deeply before beginning to scrub the soldier's back.
"Mmmm, smells like oranges."
"The label says it is white musk body wash," objected Becker.
Jess stopped scrubbing between his shoulder blades and looked at the tiny writing on the black tube.
"Well, white musk is what the manufacturer is calling it," agreed Jess, "but the ingredients list several citrus fruits… including orange."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The couple was in the kitchen lingering over a cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. Jess ran to the front door.
"Sophie!" squealed Jess excitedly as her cousin entered.
The two young women hugged each other tightly, or as tightly as Sophie's baby bump would allow. Becker and Sophie's husband Mark exchanged a glance, but didn't have a chance to speak as Jess's sister Evie and her friend Sharon followed the French couple into the living room. Hugs were given all around. Sophie asked Mark to hand her the white cardboard box in his hands.
"Jess," said Sophie, "I want to see your dress."
The blonde cousin that looked so much like Jess looked pointedly at Becker. Sophie jiggled the box up and down.
"But I know we can't have the groom seeing your dress, or any part of your attire, before the wedding," continued Sophie.
Becker looked at Jess.
"I should be going," said the soldier. "I've got wedding stuff to do."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Becker took his overnight bag, the black suit, and the last three bridesmaid dresses outside. Alexandra had already taken the dresses for Phoebe and Ruth. Becker was bringing the dresses for his sister's children. He opened the boot on the small rental car. Jess joined him outside.
"Drive carefully," said Jess as she handed him a small black kit bag containing his toiletries.
Becker tossed the bag in the boot with the other luggage and then stepped forward to hug Jess. He looked across her shoulder to their home. Sophie, Mark, Evie and Sharon were peering out the front window.
"We've got an audience," cautioned the soldier.
"I don't care," replied Jess as she looked up at him.
A slow smile spread across Becker's face. He leaned down. Jess's lips parted as did his. They shared a moment of breathless warmth before releasing each other.
"I'll see you tomorrow at Sandsfoot Castle," promised Jess.
Jess turned to go back inside their home as Becker pulled away from the curb. The soldier was taking things to his sister Gwendolyn and then going to his mother's home. The older woman no longer drove. Becker was going to take his mother to the beachfront Victorian hotel in Weymouth where many of the wedding guests had booked rooms for Friday night. Sophie and her husband Mark would be meeting Becker there later this evening, but for now it was time to go get Jess's dress.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Evie, Sophie and Sharon crowded around Jess and the seamstress in the fitting area of the small boutique. Jess had waited to schedule her final fitting until her favorite cousin arrived in England. Poor Mark had been left to sit out front in the waiting area.
"Oooh," sighed Jess's sister Evie. "You look absolutely beautiful Jess."
"Oui," agreed Sophie, speaking French in her excitement, "absolument magnifique!"
Jess regarded her reflection in the tri-fold full length dressing mirror. Her dark hair cascaded over her bare shoulders. The high-low dress of satin and chiffon allowed for her legs to be seen from the front.
"Put the shoes on," ordered the seamstress, "I want to check the hemline."
A flash of red sole showed for a brief moment as Jess stepped into the sparkling shoes. The delicate lace dragging the floor along the back hemline of Jess's dress arose with her. The seamstress nodded approvingly.
"Now let me check the bodice," continued the seamstress.
The woman started tugging on the bodice. She smoothed the delicate stitches of embroidery, inset with sparkling rhinestones. Then she ran her hands up the princess seams.
"Hmm, some brides get nervous, they either lose or gain weight before the wedding," chuckled the seamstress. "The last time you tried the dress on I thought I might have to take in these seams a bit, but the dress is fitting perfectly now."
Jess smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She knew that she had gained two pounds since her last fitting.
"I'm not nervous at all," said the young field coordinator.
Sophie held the white cardboard box out toward Jess. The bride-to-be gasped as she carefully raised the lid and lifted out the lace headdress. Rosettes of tiny multi-colored ribbons, blue, green, silver, yellow and red were scattered across the beautiful handcrafted fabric.
"Maman wanted you to have this," explained Sophie. "She and Grand-mere made it together."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Friday night Jess and Becker talked to each other on their cell phones. Jess had to put a hand to one ear to block out the sound of her family. Marjorie and her family had arrived at Granny Parker's home earlier that afternoon. Jess, Evie and Sharon arrived later after dropping Sophie and Mark off at the Victorian hotel. Charles and Peter ran by. The boys were quickly followed by Phoebe and Little Ruthie.
"Hil, I'm sorry we missed seeing you and your mother," said Jess. "But I had to get to the baker's before it closed."
"No problem, I understand," replied the soldier. "We'll see each other tomorrow."
Becker tried hard to make out what Jess was saying. The hotel lounge was crowded and noisy. At the bar, he could see Jess's Australian cousin Hank paying for three pints. The big man placed the glasses on a tray and started towards the table.
"Jess," continued Becker, "I can barely hear you. Most everyone that said they were going to be staying here has arrived."
Hank arrived at the table and set a pint in front of Becker. The big man placed the second pint on the other side of the table. The man sitting opposite Becker was the soldier's cousin from America. Hank finally sat down in front of the third pint. Hank and Becker's cousin had insisted that since they had missed Becker's stag night party they needed to buy him a pint tonight.
"I've got to go," said Becker.
"Me too," whispered Jess.
"I love you," echoed on the air waves between the two phones.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Saturday morning Becker woke with the sunrise. Bright yellow sunlight streamed in from the windows. The bridal suite in the Victorian hotel occupied the look-out tower. The view overlooking Portland Harbor was breathtaking. To the left, Becker could see the nearby town. Sailboats were already bobbing up and down on the blue water. The occasional whitecap showed as the waves peaked. To the right, Becker could see the coastline turning and jutting out into the harbor. Sandsfoot Castle could be seen in the distance. The park grounds were starting to turn green in the early spring warmth. A glimpse of bright white could be seen near the ruins.
"I sure hope that's the tent," muttered Becker.
The soldier shook his head and checked the tiny table in the corner of the room. The necessary equipment to make a cup of coffee were there, but not much else. Becker dialed the room service number and then began his morning exercises. He was beginning to sweat by the time a young man knocked on the door. Becker stopped his calisthenics and opened the door. A waiter stood there with a tea tray. The fragrant smell of hot scones drifted up from a basket on the tray.
"Did you want anything else this morning sir?" asked the waiter.
"No, this is fine," replied Becker. "Thank you."
After breakfast Becker headed for the shower. He brushed and flossed his teeth, and spent quite a bit of time in front of the mirror with a blow dryer and hair gel. It was almost as if he were preparing himself for the most demanding military inspection imaginable. When he was finally satisfied, Becker returned to the main room.
"Time to get dressed," mumbled Becker.
The soldier opened his overnight bag and reached past his socks and black briefs to pick up a red silk thong he'd bought for tonight. Jess had never said anything about the color choice or style of his underwear, but Becker wanted to surprise her with something special for their wedding night. He held the tiny scrap of fabric up and eyed it skeptically.
"Jess," said Becker as he began to dress, "I really hope you like this."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Becker drove straight down Old Castle Road towards Sandsfoot Castle. He wanted to get to the park early and check on preparations for the wedding. His sister would be bringing their mother later when she and her family came. He parked the car and stepped out. The April winds coming directly off the water of Portland Harbor felt nippy. The soldier glanced at the water. The bright blue of early morning water was beginning to darken and clouds now dotted the morning sky.
"Good thing we got the tent," said Becker.
The high peaked canopy tent was made of white canvas. Three separate poles kept the lengthy rectangular space upright on the left side of the gardens. At the outer supporting poles, the canvas sides were drawn back and held in place with brightly colored yellow ribbons. Becker met the caterer as he stepped beneath the canvas awning.
"What are you doing here?" asked the man. "The wedding doesn't start for another two hours."
"Just making sure everything is secure," replied Becker.
Beneath the left and right canopies, people were setting up large round tables. Both tables and chairs were covered with white cloth. Ribbons of different colors tied the seat covers to the chairs with a festive bow. The rear portion of the central canopy covered the buffet and cake tables. Becker grinned to see the cake table. He walked towards rear of the pavilion. The baker looked up from where he was adding the final touches.
"Don't touch," ordered the baker.
Three cakes stood resplendent on the rectangular table. To the left was a traditional French Wedding cake. The pyramid of round golden puff balls towered high. As Becker stepped closer he could smell the sweet scent of caramel.
"Of course not," promised the soldier.
To the right, stood a traditional English wedding cake. The fruitcake, made with raisins, almonds, cherries and covered with marzipan was surrounded by bright yellow primrose blossoms.
"Has the florist been here already?" asked Becker in surprise.
"No," replied the baker. The man pointed to the cake table. "The bride insisted the croquembouche had to have the sparkling candles and the fruitcake had to have yellow primroses."
Becker looked to the center cake. The tall tiered chocolate cake in the center was the largest cake there, but it had a simple swirl pattern to the frosting and no other adornment.
"I thought Jess had something for that cake too," said Becker.
The baker nodded. He held up a shining cake topper. The small silver heart within a larger heart appeared almost like a gyroscope.
"I was waiting for my assistant to hold the ladder," replied the baker. "Would you give me a hand?"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The wind was beginning to pick up by the time the harpist arrived. The woman insisted her musical instrument be placed beneath the canvas tent. Becker pointed to the rows of white folding chairs set up on either side of a green walkway in the garden.
"The ceremony is going to be over there," said Becker, "will anyone be able to hear the music?"
The harpist pointed to the sky. The blue sky was beginning to turn gray with clouds and the wind was snapping the canvas briskly.
"If the harp gets rained on," said the woman, "no one is going to want to hear my music. Besides, I'm sure the organist will have speakers."
A short while later, a man arrived pushing a flatbed cart with speakers and an electronic organ.
"Oh yeah," replied the man, "we can amplify the harp music if you need me to."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Guests were beginning to arrive and Becker still had not seen the florist. Hank and Becker's cousin along with two of his security men were acting as ushers. Becker stood near the seating area watching people arrive.
"Where is the florist?" muttered Becker.
Sophie and Mark arrived from the hotel along with Sophie's parents. An elderly couple followed them. Becker breathed a sigh of relief. Jess had been worried that Grand-Mère and Grand-Père would not be able to make the long journey from their home in France. Her mother's parents hadn't stayed at the Victorian Hotel with the other out of town guests last night. The soldier hurried forward.
"May I help you to your seats?" offered Becker.
"No, no, no," objected Sophie. "You are the groom."
Hank came up at that moment and took his grandmother by the arm. He nodded at Becker as if to say this was under control and then the little group headed down the green carpet between the two sets of seating.
"Aren't you supposed to be waiting up there?"
Becker turned at the sound of Lester's voice. His boss was pointing to the front of the seating area. A clergyman stood next to a small table. The table held a book, a cross and candles.
"Um, well, not just yet," stammered Becker.
Thankfully, Becker's American cousin arrived at that moment. The man extended his arm towards Mrs. Lester.
"May I seat you?" asked the American.
Lester's wife gracefully assented. The three children followed their mother and her escort down the aisle. Lester lingered for just a moment longer. The ARCs director held his hand out towards Becker. The soldier found his hand being heartily shaken.
"Glad to see this day," said Lester before he hurried down the aisle after his family.
A short while later, Becker was greeted by his sister Gwendolyn. His sister's husband was helping Becker's mother as she made her way slowly across the uneven ground.
"Hil," said Gwendolyn, "let me just pin this."
"What?" asked Becker. He looked at the boutonniere in surprise. "Where did you get that? I haven't seen the florist yet."
Gwendolyn shook her head and smiled. She reached to pin the white rose, baby's breath and yellow primrose to his lapel.
"The florist brought the flowers to the ladies dressing area," explained his sister.
Becker glanced across the gardens to the tent pavilion. The round tables that had been so bare earlier now had bright splashes of color. Each table was adorned with a candy box of dragees and little primrose pots.
"I should go check on things," said Becker.
"No, Hil, really you shouldn't," replied his sister with a smile. "Jess is up there and she has things well in hand."
Becker's mother and brother-in-law joined them. The sounds of the harp music that had been softly playing were now starting to sound a bit louder.
"What you need to do now," continued his sister, "is take Mum to her seat and join that young best man of yours."
Becker looked towards the front of the seating area. Charles was now standing beside the clergyman looking decidedly nervous. In all the crowd, Becker hadn't seen Marjorie and her family arrive. The soldier held out his arm. His mother grasped it firmly. Gwendolyn and her husband started down the aisle, followed by Becker and his mother.
"Hilary," whispered his mother, "I wish your father was here to see this day."
Becker felt a sudden tearing in his eyes which wasn't caused by the breeze. He gulped, but before he could say anything his mother spoke again.
"He would be just as happy for you and Jess as I am," continued the older woman. "Hold on to the love you two share, it's all anyone ever really has."
As Becker carefully seated his mother next to his sister and her husband in the front row, he was surprised to see Lester and his family in the next row. He had thought his boss would sit on the bride's side. As Becker walked to join young Charles at the front, he noticed Lester's brother sitting across the aisle on the bride's side. Jess's parents arrived then and were seated in front of Edwin Lester. Becker remembered then that the man was George Parker's boss.
"Uh oh," hissed Charles, "here comes Mum."
Becker looked at the end of the aisle. Marjorie was definitely trying to make her way to the front of the seating area. In the last row, Becker could see Connor and Abby standing on either side of the aisle. He smiled to see the couple swapping little Sarah and Tommy. The couple's plans for a second honeymoon had changed. They hadn't wanted to leave the new baby with Connor's parents due to the child's colic. Jess had insisted Abby and Connor come anyway and bring both Sarah and Tommy.
"Are you sure you want Mum to make a speech?" asked Charles.
Becker stiffened.
"I thought Marjorie was doing a reading," said the soldier.
"Oh no," replied Charles, "she's got a speech planned."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Marjorie stepped in front of the clergyman. She stood between the table and Becker.
"Charles is taking his duties as best man quite seriously," preened Marjorie. "He's been collecting coins from all over the world to make sure he pays the minister's fee in an odd amount."
"Um great," said Becker. He glanced down at his soon to be nephew. "Thank you Charles."
"I'm going to make my speech," continued Marjorie as if Becker hadn't said a word, "and then I'll call for the music. That's when the processional will start… the bridesmaids and Jess…"
"And I'd really like to get married," interrupted Becker, "today."
Marjorie nodded happily. She turned to face the waiting crowd of guests.
"Attention! Attention everyone!"
The music stilled.
"My baby sister, Jessica Marie Parker, asked me to give a reading today," began Marjorie. "She also asked that there be no embarrassing stories. Jess will get half of what she asked for."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
In the ladies dressing room, Jess couldn't hear what was going on. Alexandra had stayed with her to help keep the five young girls together and ready for the processional. All of them were waiting for the sounds of music to begin again.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Marjorie was still talking. Something about her father being a spy and that it was only right that Jess should meet her future husband working in a secret government facility. Becker could see the Lester brother's, James and Edwin, start shaking their heads. The soldier couldn't read lips, but it wasn't hard to figure out what Lester said to his brother.
"We'll have to have all the guests sign the official secrets act!"
A drop of rain spattered on the soldier's forehead.
"Marjorie," pleaded Becker, "can you hurry it up please? It's going to start raining."
Marjorie looked up for a moment. Jess's oldest sister said one last thing.
"Let the music begin!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The sounds of Ode to Joy carried across the gardens.
The canvas doorway sheltering the ladies dressing area was pulled back. The two youngest girls, Little Ruthie and Larry started walking down the green carpet leading from the tent pavilion to the wedding ceremony. The girls carried baskets filled with primrose petals. Ruthie was very deliberately tossing the petals along their path, while Larry was holding on to her basket. Phoebe, then Nan, then Meg followed single file. Jess stepped out into the open.
Becker's breath caught in his throat. He watched as the love of his life approached. The little girls reached the front rows and divided. They moved to sit with their families. Jess continued forward until she stood before him. The soldier stared in a daze. He listened as the clergyman began the ceremony. It wasn't until the man repeated Becker's name that the soldier realized it was his turn to speak.
"Hilary James Becker," asked the clergyman, "I understand you have something you wish to say."
Becker, looked flustered for a moment, then the muscles of his jaw flexed as he swallowed. Another tiny drop of rain landed on his forehead. He opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Jessica Marie Parker…" began Becker. "I don't like public speaking, and I wasn't really keen on having to write and speak our own wedding vows at first."
Becker swallowed again. Another drop of rain spattered, landing on the table this time.
"I'm not exactly creative," continued Becker, "but I knew, all I had to do was think about Jess… and I could do this."
Becker gazed at Jess. Her hopeful eyes were shining up at him. The soldier had modelled his vows on a rather famous poem.
"How do I love you?" asked Becker. "I love you with heart, mind, body and soul. I love you around the world and back again. I love you in the darkest depths of night where monsters crawl and in the brightest morning light of London sprawl…"
The soldier continued speaking, recounting anecdotes of his and Jess's time together. Some of the guests smiled and nodded in remembrance at his words, but some things Becker referred to were solely between the soldier and Jess. Jess never took her eyes off him. Twenty minutes later, the normally taciturn man concluded his vows with one last statement.
"I love you Jess with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life," promised Becker, "and beyond."
A fat drop of rain landed on the clergyman's nose. The man hurried the rest of the ceremony.
"And I now pronounce you man and wife," concluded the clergyman, "you may kiss the bride."
And as the sky opened up and the rain started in earnest, their guests ran to the reception tent. Becker and Jess didn't notice. Their lips met and raindrops glistened on primroses.