Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval or its characters.

Chapter Summary: The wedding is now over; Becker and Jess spend their first night together, and it dawns on Jess that she's going to be living alone again now.

Chapter Length: 1752

Author's Note: Things heat up between Jess and Becker in this chapter, but it's quite tame and is over quickly, hopefully no one is made to feel uncomfortable.

Open Mic Nights

Chapter 16 – Love & Loss

The reception had ended and Jess was making her way back to her hotel room, Becker walking by her side. They stopped in front of the door, both of them reluctant to part ways.

"I guess I should probably…" Jess said, gesturing over her shoulder to the door behind her.

"Yeah. It was a pretty crazy day; you must want to get some rest." Becker leant down to give her a good night kiss. Or that was what he had intended to do, but Jess had other plans.

Something snapped inside Jess the moment Becker's lips touched hers. She had wanted to be close to him all day, and when he kissed her that craving was intensified. Giving in to her urges Jess grasped the lapels of Becker's jacket and pulled him towards her, deepening the kiss. Becker's hands went to her hips and Jess could feel his body responding to her.

Somehow Jess managed to get the door open and the two of them stumbled inside. Without breaking the kiss they made their way to the bed, Becker's jacket and vest being shed in the process.

They collapsed onto the mattress. Taking hold of Becker's shirt Jess pulled him with her as she lay back on the bed. Swiftly she undid the buttons on his shirt, while Becker ran his hands teasingly up her thigh. Deciding fair is fair; Jess ran her figure tips over his toned stomach muscles and chest.

Changing tactics, Becker trailed kisses along her jaw and up to her ear before nibbling gently on her ear lobe.

Jess gasped as a shiver was sent through her body at Becker's ministrations. Taking his face in both hands Jess brought his mouth back to hers and kissed him deeply, causing Becker to groan in the back of his throat.

Eventually they pulled apart enough to allow them both some time to catch their breath. As she looked up into his intense gaze Jess wondered what Becker could be thinking about. The expression on his face wasn't one she had seen there before. There was still the open love and adoration he always looked at her with, but there was something else underlying it. Something Jess rarely saw on Becker's face. He looked almost nervous or afraid.

Just as she was about to ask him what was on his mind Becker spoke.

"I love you." He said it so quietly Jess almost believed she had imagined it.

Jess lay there, stunned. While she had always hoped he would say that to her one day, she had all but convinced herself that it was never going to happen. Even after they had started dating she refused to let herself get her hopes up. She told herself repeatedly that just because they were dating didn't mean he had strong feelings for her, that it didn't necessarily mean he loved her. Besides, even if he did, she knew what Becker was like when it came to feelings and knew it may take a while for him to be able to tell her how he felt.

Coming out of her stupor, Jess pulled Becker back down to her and kissed him, putting everything she had ever felt for the man into the kiss.

"I love you too." Jess told him after the kiss had come to a natural end.

The smile that came over Becker's face at her words was one of the brightest she had ever seen. The tender kiss he gave her then led to a night neither of them would soon forget.

The next morning when Jess woke up she felt an unusual weight across her waist. Looking down she found that the source of the heaviness was a muscled arm lying over her bare stomach. Seeing the arm rapped around her middle brought up the memories of everything that had happened last night, making Jess smile.

Rolling over Jess found herself face to face with a wide awake Becker.

"Mmm morning." Jess said voice thick with sleep. Becker smiled before pulling Jess closer and kissing her gently.

"Morning," Becker said when they pulled away.

"You know, we're going to need to be careful not to make a habit of this."

"Of what?"

"Waking up to each other."

"And why's that?"

"Because I could get use to waking up in your arms and then I'll start expecting you to be there every morning"

"Mmm… I think that could be arranged." Becker said as he kissed her neck.

They lay in bed, swapping between talking and exchanging kisses, until Jess stopped them, reminding Becker that they needed to meet the team for breakfast in 20 minutes, and all his clothes were in his room.

They met Matt, Emily, Abby and Connor downstairs in the hotel's restaurant. Abby and Connor had decided to take their friends out for breakfast as a thank you for all the hard work they'd put in to planning the wedding.

Jess and Becker were the last to join the group, since they had to stop by Becker's room so he could change. As they sat down in the two remaining seats, they were met with the knowing looks of their teammates.

"What kept you two?" Connor asked raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I thought if anyone was going to take a while coming down for breakfast it would be Abby and Connor." Matt added.

"You do seem awfully happy." Abby chimed, taking her turn to tease the blushing couple.

"Let them be." Emily said coming to Jess' and Becker's defence. "It is nice that they are so happy together."

"Thank you Emily. Besides surly we have something better to talk about then why Becker and I were running a little late for breakfast."

"No not really." Connor said smirking.

"Then we shall find something else to discuss. Tell me, did you both enjoy your wedding yesterday?'

"It was wonderful." Abby smiled at her husband, reaching for his hand. "Thank you all again for everything you did to help us. Emily, Jess, those suits you chose looked amazing."

"Though not as amazing as the men wearing them, am I right?"

The three women rolled their eyes at Connor's comment. A waiter came over then, and the group placed their breakfast orders.

They chatted happily as they ate; talking about whatever topic came to mind.

"That slow cooker your grandmother gave you was nice, and pricy. You'll have to let me know if it's any good, I've always wanted to get one but never knew if they're worth the price." Jess said as the conversation shifted topics yet again.

"If you think that was nice you should see what Lester got us. That was a bit of a shock, right Abs?"

"I definitely think you could call it that."

"Why? What did he get you?" Jess asked while sharing a knowing look with the others.

"He and his wife bought us a town house."

"How very generous of them."

"It's the least he could do, after selling their last house."

"Becker," Jess scolded lightly.

"What? I tried talking him out of it but he wouldn't change his mind. Then to make it worse he made me go through their things and move it all out." Becker's voice was quiet and he looked down as he spoke.

Jess could tell Becker's mind was far away. She knew he was being reminded of everything he had felt during the time his teammates and close friends were missing. Jess felt for him, she could still remember the hollowed man he had been when they met and the last thing she wanted was for him to go back on all the progress he had made. It hurt her to see him feeling all that pain again.

"Hey," Jess whispered as she grabbed Becker's hand. "Don't go back there, everything's fine now. We're all here."

Becker smiled and lent over to give Jess a soft kiss.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"Perhaps now is a good time to give Connor and Abby our gift?" Emily asked, expertly changing the subject. Jess smiled at her gratefully.

"You guys didn't have to get us anything; you've all already done so much for us."

"Well it's not so much from the four of us as it is from everyone at the ARC." Jess told them as she took a large envelope out of her bag.

"Oh no, another envelope." Connor said nervously as he took the package Jess held out to them. "You're opening this one Abs, who knows what's inside."

Rolling her eyes at Connor, Abby took the envelope from him and opened it carefully, her eyes widening when she saw the contents. Leaning over she showed Connor what was inside the package.

"Is this what I think it is?" Connor asked.

"We knew the Lesters were getting you the town house," Matt explained. "And thought you could use some help getting it furnished."

"But this is…"

"Just enough to get you set up, trust us, we looked into it thoroughly."

"But how did you come up with it all? I mean this gift certificate holds a considerable sum."

"Everyone from the old ARC was more than happy to help when they learnt what we were doing. Everyone else was too scared of Jess to say no."

"Becker! They were not! They were happy to help out Abby and Connor just like everyone else. Besides if they were scared of either of us it'd be you."

"Thank you all so much." Abby said, her eyes glistening.

"You are most welcome. And if I am remembering correctly, you just need to fill out those forms with what you would like, leave it with Jess or I, and when you return your house shall be waiting for you; ready to be lived in."

"That's not necessary; we can handle it when we get back."

"Nonsense! Besides, I may have got ahead of myself and already started packing for you."

"Eager to get rid of us, are you Jess?"

"No! I love living with you guys. I just thought…"

"It's okay Jess." Abby said, taking her friends hand. "He's just teasing, we both know you'd never try to get rid of us."

Later that day, as she was on her way home, it struck Jess that she would now be living alone again. She had been living with Abby and Connor for so long she wasn't sure how she would handle her new found freedom.

It's going to be lonely without them.