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
6.5-9 – After All This Time
…the cake in the freezer…
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Jess and Becker parked the car in front of Abby and Connor's flat. Jess turned to Becker.
"Jack doesn't seem like the responsible type," said Jess. "I don't know why Abby and Connor asked him to watch over their pets and home."
Becker shrugged. The soldier remembered the first time he met Jack. At one time he would have whole heartedly shared Jess's opinion of Jack, but in the past few months, Becker had seen Jack be there for Abby.
"Jack has never really had to be responsible before," replied Becker as he climbed out of the car. "He's always been the baby brother."
Jess was already out of the driver's seat and walking towards the dark green door. The slender woman stopped walking and turned her head to look over her shoulder at her boyfriend. She tossed her hair back and gave Becker a bright smile.
"Aren't you the baby brother in your family?" teased Jess. "Didn't your big sister watch out for you?"
Both of Becker's eyebrows went up at Jess's questions.
"Yeah, but that's different," said Becker.
"How?"
"My sister watched out for me, but she also taught me to watch out for others," answered Becker. "This is Jack's chance to do something for Abby and Connor and I just think we shouldn't interfere…"
Jess rolled her eyes as Becker caught up to her on the walkway.
"I just want to make sure Jack put the top layer of Abby and Connor's wedding cake in the freezer," interrupted Jess. "We'll just be a minute."
Becker stared past Jess. Lights were on inside Abby and Connor's home. Jess turned to follow his gaze. Inside they could see Jack and another person in the front room. Rex could also be seen. The green lizard had his head tilted to one side and appeared to be chirping angrily at Jack and the dark haired woman.
"Abby didn't tell me anything about visitors," began Jess.
"Connor didn't say anything about visitors to me either," added Becker.
The tall soldier strode past Jess and knocked hard on the dark green door.
"Maybe we should interfere."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Lester sighed. He looked at Danny and Stephen.
"Saving the world from destruction again," repeated Lester. "Cutter makes it sound easy."
Danny and Stephen exchanged a glance.
"The world is still spinning round as usual," said Danny "We've survived convergence and that crazy madwoman…"
"And we've not seen any sign of Helen in ages," added Stephen.
Lester pointed to the miniature predators on the entomologist's work table.
"We've got the Cutter's, Abby and Connor out of the ARC, away from military control," said Lester, "now all we have to do is find out who's responsible for those nasty little beasties."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
Cutter dialed Matt's cell phone number, while Claudia spoke with her father.
"Matt," greeted the Scot.
"Professor Cutter?" asked Matt in a sleepy tone. "What are you doing calling at this hour?"
Cutter glanced at his watch. It was late. He looked across his father-in-law's living room to see Claudia holding Stephanie. The little girl was snuggled in her mother's arm and appeared to have her thumb in her mouth.
"Sorry," replied Nick. "I didn't realize the time, but I have to ask you something."
"What?" asked Matt.
"When you and your father came to this time," asked Cutter, "where did you arrive? We haven't put your anomaly in the map."
"Well it probably shouldn't go in the map," said the man from the future. "The anomaly to Carnaby Street was not a natural anomaly."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
The shiny key that Abby carried opened the door to a luxurious hotel suite. Her feet sank into the thick green carpet as she walked inside. Abby slung her backpack on the dark round mahogany table near the door. Connor followed her, carrying their large travel bag. His gaze swept past the sitting area, down the hallway to the window in the bedroom area.
"Ooh," said Connor. "Look at the lights."
Connor walked past Abby towards the bedroom. The blonde followed her husband and watched as he set their bag on the dresser. Paris appeared twinkling in the night sky. The Eiffel tower was recognizable in the distance. Abby walked towards the window and traced her finger across the glass.
"The city is beautiful," whispered Abby.
Connor moved to stand beside Abby.
"It's not as beautiful as you are," said Connor.
Abby's lips curled up in a smile. Connor leaned in towards her, pressing his lips against hers. After a very long and hectic day, the newlyweds finally had some privacy. Abby parted her lips as did Connor. The thrust of her tongue met his. For a few brief moments, the world was only Abby, Connor and a kiss.
But reality intruded. Connor's stomach growled. It had been quite a while since the wedding luncheon in London. The couple broke apart. Connor's face flushed. Abby smirked.
"Maybe we should have dinner first," suggested Abby.
"I'm not hungry," denied Connor. He leaned towards Abby again. Abby sniffed.
"You smell," said Abby. She wrinkled up her tiny nose in pretense. "Connor, take a shower, yeah."
"But… but," protested Connor.
"I'll call room service, Lester said meals were included," said Abby. She moved to pick up the hotel phone.
"Seriously?" asked Connor. "You want to eat dinner now?"
His protest might have been more believable if his stomach hadn't chosen that moment to rumble again. Abby pointed towards the door they had passed in the hallway. She made a shooing motion with her hands towards the bathroom. Connor turned, he walked slowly away from Abby. It wasn't until he was at the doorway that Abby spoke again.
"And Connor," said Abby, "hurry back."
A smile lit up the young scientist's face.
"Oh yeah," agreed Connor.
Connor stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. In another minute, the sound of water started. Abby spoke briefly into the hotel phone, then hung up. She stopped to draw the curtains, and then the blonde hurried back to the front room of the suite. Abby reached to open her backpack. Claudia, Sarah and Jess had given her a special gift at her hen night, and Abby wanted to wear it tonight. She pulled back the tissue paper and gazed at the cream colored nightgown.
"It's the most beautiful nightgown I've ever seen," whispered Abby to herself.
She reached a hand out to stroke the soft fabric. The satin nightgown had a cutwork design inset with lace, leaving a sheer gown that was designed to both cover and reveal the body it adorned. Abby lost track of time. She soon heard the sound of water shutting off. Abby hurriedly shoved the tissue paper package back in her backpack. The bathroom door opened and Connor stepped out. He was now wearing a thick white bathrobe. Connor was grinning happily.
"Where did you get that?" asked Abby. He hadn't taken any clothing into the bathroom.
"This hotel has everything," said Connor. He spun around. "The robe was in the loo. There is another one for you too."
Abby stepped towards Connor. His eyes lit up and his smile spread across his face. He reached his arms towards Abby. She held a hand up and stopped him. A confused expression replaced the joy in Connor's eyes.
"Abby," began Connor.
"Connor," said Abby, "I need to freshen up, yeah."
"You are fresh already," said Connor.
Abby pushed past Connor into the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind her.
"You're gorgeous!"
Abby stared at her reflection in the mirror. Not for one minute did she believe herself to be beautiful or gorgeous or any of those other words Connor used to describe her. Abby had known Connor for over six years. Over time they had become best friends and flat mates. And since that day in another time and place nearly a year ago, Abby and Connor had been lovers. She swallowed.
"You're being daft," whispered Abby to her reflection. "Just because we're married now doesn't mean anything will change."
In the front room, Connor heard soft knocking on the door to the hotel suite. The scientist opened the door. A waiter stood before him with a heavy laden cart. The man pushed the cart forward nearly running over Connor's toes in the process.
"Bonne soirée," said the waiter as he turned on his heels and left the room. Connor gaped for a moment at the man's retreating figure and then moved to shut the door.
"Abby," called Connor, "dinner's here."
Abby watched as the woman reflected in the mirror blinked.
"Already?" asked Abby. She spoke loudly to be heard through the closed door.
Connor lifted the covered lids off the food. There was a basket of hard crusty bread, a dish with bright green asparagus spears and two dinner plates with what appeared to be beef and herb roasted potatoes. There was also an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne.
"What did you order?" Connor's voice was somewhat muffled coming through the bathroom door.
"I didn't order anything," replied Abby. "When I called room service the person said dinner was pre-arranged."
Connor reached for the card tied around the neck of the champagne bottle. His lips curled up in a small smile as he read the words written there: Try to stay out of trouble. We don't want any international incidents.
"Do you want some bubbly?" asked Connor.
"Yeah," replied Abby. "I'll be right out." She shook her shoulders and stared at herself in the mirror. Abby whispered to the woman reflected there. "Quit messing around."
Abby undressed. She dumped the contents of the backpack on the counter. The blonde quickly unwrapped the tissue paper package. Abby slipped the satin and lace concoction over her head. She opened the bathroom door just as the cork popped and flew across the room. Connor turned to look at the petite blonde before him. His mouth opened and closed and then opened again.
"Abby, you're amazing," gasped Connor. "You look great."
The words were the same ones Connor had said to Abby once long ago, in Stephen's hospital room. Abby gulped. She looked into Connor's dark brown eyes. The champagne was bubbling over the top of the bottle and running down the sides, dripping, but Connor was oblivious to the mess. After all this time, Connor still stared at Abby as if he was seeing her for the first time. He still stared at her as if she was the most wonderful person he'd ever met.
"Maybe dinner can wait," said Abby, "yeah."
-x-x-x-x-x-x
