Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
A/N Part of the Claudia story verse (AU) Transitions, Transitions Too, Continuum, Trimming the Tree, Missing
6.5-2 A Piece of Cake
…get on with our lives…
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The wedding luncheon was drawing to a close. The meal had been served family style. Great big bowls of boiled potatoes, steamed green beans and carrots were passed down one side of the table and up the other amidst laughter and reminiscing. A platter of dinner rolls followed. The roast had been delayed by Cutter and Lester discussing, arguing really, the best way to slice the meat. Danny solved the debate.
"Now this is the best way to slice a roast," smirked Danny. He held a serving fork in one hand and a carving knife in the other. He began to demonstrate. "Cut it straight down the middle… and do it before the food gets cold."
The large bottom layer of the wedding cake, a lovely golden concoction of fruit and nuts, disappeared quickly.
"My favorite type of cake," announced Duncan.
Several heads nodded in agreement.
"Does anyone want more?" asked Abby.
"Well, perhaps just one more slice," said Lester.
"James," chided his wife.
"Weddings don't happen every day," reminded Lester.
The director held out his plate as Abby and Connor sliced the second layer.
"Ooh," exclaimed Claudia, "that's different."
Thick white frosting covered the middle layer to where you couldn't see it was a different type of cake. The second layer, a dark chocolate cake with cherries, disappeared even quicker.
"Some of us should be getting back to work now," muttered Lester. He pushed himself back from the table and stood up. Lester squinted his eyes and looked pointedly ate Danny and Stephen.
"We'll be back at the ARC soon," said Danny as he forked another potato. "See you there guv."
Stephen picked up the bowl of carrots and served himself another helping before passing the bowl to Danny.
"We'll be there soon," promised Stephen.
Connor walked the Lester's to the front door of the restaurant to see them out.
"If you decide the academic life is too boring," said Lester, "you and Abby can always come back to the ARC."
"Thanks Lester," replied Connor as he shook hands with his former boss. "Abby and I, we need something different now… we're just moving on to a different chapter of our lives now."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
At the far end of the restaurant, Abby, Sarah and Jess were standing near the serving cart that held the cake. Jack approached the women. He pointed at the cake.
"What's in the top layer?" asked Jack. He looked inquisitively at the cake.
"No!" said Jess. "You can't have it!"
"What?" asked Jack.
Jess was shaking her head at Jack.
"Why can't I have any?" asked Abby's brother.
"Abby and Connor have to save the top layer of the cake," explained Jess. "It's good luck, for their first anniversary."
"Now I've always heard the bride and groom are supposed to save that part of the wedding cake for their first baby's birthday," teased Sarah.
Sarah raised her eyebrows and grinned at Abby. Jess pulled out a cardboard box from a lower shelf of the serving cart. The field coordinator held the box out towards the bride.
"I'll put the cake in the freezer," said Abby with a smile.
As Sarah and Jess helped Abby slide the top layer of the wedding cake into the cardboard box, Jamal leaned across the table towards Jack.
"I think you're out of luck mate," chuckled Jamal.
"I didn't say I wanted another piece of cake," replied Jack. "I only asked what kind it was."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Abby tucked the folds of the box into place. The petite blonde looked from Sarah to Jess.
"I just want to thank you both again," added Abby. "Connor's Mum was devastated that she couldn't get here for the wedding."
"All I did was hold the laptop," replied Sarah. "Jess did all the hard work setting up the computer so we could stream the whole ceremony to Connor's Mum."
"A live video feed is the next best thing to being there," responded Jess cheerfully, "getting quarantined for mumps at her age sounds awful."
"Two weeks bed rest might not be too awful," said Sarah, "except for the part about missing your only child's wedding."
"Connor and I offered to postpone the wedding," said Abby with a smirk, "but Connor's Mum wouldn't hear of it. Her exact words were I've been waiting years!"
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Abby picked up the box with the top layer of the wedding cake. The blonde glanced past Jess to Connor. He was standing at the front door saying goodbye to Duncan and Edie. The bells on the door tinkled as the friends followed the Lester's out. Claudia and Nick had already said goodbye to her and were now standing beside Connor.
"We should be going too," said Sarah. "Jamal's got to get back to the museum and I do have to do some work today."
Abby stared at Connor. Becker, Danny and Stephen had joined him at the front door, along with the Cutter's.
"Abby," asked Sarah, "did you hear me?"
Abby pointed. Sarah and Jess turned to follow the motion of her hand. The little hamster had stayed content in Connor's pocket during the luncheon while being fed a steady stream of tidbits, but now Connor was busy talking with his friends.
"Conn," called Abby.
Her husband turned to face Abby. He flashed a dazzling bright smile. Abby's lips curled up in an answering grin. She pointed.
"The hamster…," started Abby, but it was too late.
The tiny creature reached the edge of Connor's pocket and leaped. The small brown rodent landed first on Cutter's knee, startling the Professor. The Scot fell back against the table, while the hamster then leapt to the floor. The creature scurried out the open door and across the parking lot towards the park.
"My luck is running out," exclaimed Connor. He ran after the creature.
-x-x-x-x-x-x
