Title: Stay

Disclaimer: Primeval and it's characters belong to Impossible Pictures, no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This is the final chapter, please please review as it makes my day! Thanks to those who have read, reviewed and added to faves. :-)

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

Connor Temple walked through the streets of London in a daze. He wasn't sure what to do or where to go. He'd told Abby he was going to stay with his Mum for a while but the last train had long since gone and he would have to wait until morning. He knew that at some point he would have to go back to the flat and get some of his belongings together but he wasn't ready yet. Connor wanted to wait a couple of hours until Abby was asleep, then hopefully he'd sneak in and out unnoticed. He certainly couldn't risk bumping into her, he knew that if he did then he'd cave and want to stay.

Staying wasn't an option really, things just weren't the same any more. He had been slowly becoming more and more depressed about the situation since she'd told him the kiss was a mistake. Connor just couldn't do it to himself any more, her big blue eyes, beautiful smile, the smell of her perfume were all reminders of what he could never have.

He wasn't quite sure when the day had come that friendship with Abby just wasn't enough. Sure they had great times, movie night on a Saturday, Star Trek night on a Sunday but all that time they spent together, it had just become too much. She was so comfortable with him, resting her head on his shoulder, falling asleep on his lap, wondering around the house half naked, there was no wonder he had snapped.

He checked his watch - 2:45am, it had been more than three hours since he'd left Abby outside the pub. Surely it must be safe to return by now. Hell, what was he thinking, she probably wasn't even at home. She had probably left with the gorgeous Alex for a night of passion. He screwed up his face in disgust at the thought, sometimes when it came to Abby, he was his own worst enemy. He had raised her up on this pedestal as the most perfect and beautiful woman he had ever met, no one could live up to such expectations.

As he rounded the next corner, Connor looked up and was shocked to find that he was home. He hadn't consciously made the decision to return and yet, here he was. He pulled his keys out of his jeans pocket and opened the door as quietly as he could. As he walked into the flat, the Diictodons began to fuss around him, making their little squeaking noises and Connor put his finger to his lips hushing them.

He crept up the stairs to his room, wincing as they creaked in complaint. Why was it that when you were trying to be quiet, you always managed to make more noise than usual? When he got to the top, he realised just how tired he was but there was no time for sleep, Abby could come up in the morning and find him here and it would be too awkward after everything that had been said.

Connor switched on the light and was taken aback to see the woman currently occupying his thoughts curled up asleep on the bed. She looked so beautiful laying there in his bed - like an angel. He shook his head and closed his eyes tight, he had to stop thinking like that. She stirred slightly and scrunched up her eyes, obviously noticing in her sleep that the light had been switched on. Connor froze, was she going to wake up? He hardly dared to breath as he waited. When after a few moments it seemed as though she was still deep in sleep, he tiptoed over to his drawers, grabbed his holdall and began to stuff it with as many clothes as would fit.

"Connor?"

Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!

"Connor, is that you?"

He heard movement on the bed and guessed she must be getting up but he didn't turn to see.

"No. it's a burglar!" He sneered sarcastically.

Anger was his coping mechanism, if he didn't hold onto it then he would surely fall to pieces.

"I thought you'd gone." She said softly, ignoring his comment.

"I'm leaving in the morning."

"Have you told Lester?"

Why the hell was she thinking of Lester at a time like this?

"No."

"If you go without saying anything you could lose your job."

Connor laughed mirthlessly and turned to look at her, it was a mistake. Her blonde hair was mussed, mascara smudged down her face and her eyes were glistening with unshed tears but to Connor, she was still unbelievably beautiful. He looked down at his hands, avoiding her piercing gaze.

"I don't even know if I'll be coming back anyway."

A sound came from Abby's lips, a strangled gasp which made him want to hold her tight and never let go. He reminded himself that she wouldn't want that, didn't want him to hold her now or ever and he bit his lip in grim determination, forcing himself to look at her.

"Please . . . " She begged. "Don't do this, don't go."

"Have to."

"Why?" She whined.

She sounded so unlike her usual self that Connor could almost pretend that he was talking to someone else.

"We've already been through all this Abbs, don't make me say it again."

He cursed himself for using her shortened name, it sounded too friendly. He watched as a single tear ran down her cheek and she caught it quickly.

"I don't want you to go." She whispered, sounding almost childlike.

Connor turned away from her, taking a deep breath for strength before continuing with his packing. He felt her arms come around his shoulders from behind and he shrugged them off.

"Please, I'm begging here Connor, and I don't beg! Please stay, I need you."

"That's a laugh!" He snorted, turning to face her again. "You need me about as much as you need a kick in the head."

She frowned at his choice of words.

"No Connor, I need you about as much as I need air! You're everything to me and I'm so sorry that I haven't shown you that, or told you. It's just that . . . "

She sighed heavily, more tears falling unchecked.

"Just what Abby?" He demanded.

"I was scared." She whispered.

"Scared?"

Abby nodded miserably.

"Of what, me?" Connor asked incredulously.

Surely he couldn't scare her, he'd seen scarier butterflies. Though his recent behaviour was scaring even him.

"No, not you, us."

Now it was Connor's turn to frown, she was making no sense to him.

"Us? But there is no us Abby, never will be."

Abby closed her eyes and whimpered at his reply, she couldn't stand this much longer.

"You're my best friend Conn, I've never let myself get this close to anybody . . . "

"That's a joke." He interrupted callously.

"Let me finish! It's true, the things we've shared, the talks we have, I've never had that before."

"What about Alex? I'm sure you were about to get pretty close to him." Connor sneered.

"That's not close! At least, not in any way that's important, that's just sex."

"Just sex?"

He shook his head at her in disgust.

"Connor, what you and me have, it's different, it's special." Abby explained. "It's not about sex, it's about . . ."

She was about to say love and respect but Connor interrupted her again.

"Whatever Abby. You can kiss our different and special relationship goodbye now because it's gone and so am I."

Abby sobbed, her face stricken at his mean and vicious words, she had been trying to tell him that she loved him, that she wanted him, wanted to spend her life with him but now . . . She turned and ran down the stairs still sobbing.

Connor slapped his hand down on the chest of drawers in frustration and then winced as a sharp pain shot through it. He looked down, his knuckles where bruised and bleeding from hitting the wall earlier, he hadn't even noticed. He felt deep remorse for what he had said to Abby, she had hurt him with her recent behaviour but she didn't deserve to be spoken to like that. There was one positive side, it would make his departure easier, maybe now she would stay away.

He finished his packing and took his bag downstairs. He'd have to leave his games and DVD's for now, maybe Danny or Becker would be kind enough to send them to him. Connor was surprised to see Abby curled up on the sofa with her head in her hands crying, he'd thought she would have gone to her room. His heart ached at her sobs and it took every ounce of his strength not to go to her.

It was as his pet Diictodons ran up to him again excitedly that a fresh wave of pain hit him. He couldn't take them with him and that broke his heart almost as much as leaving Abby did. He knew they would be safe here, Abby would take good care of them. He bent down and gave them both a fuss, chuckling through his tears as they rolled around on their backs and kicked their little stumpy legs in the air.

"Bye guys." He said to them. "Be good, no stealing Rex's dinner ok? Look after Abby for me."

Abby looked up at hearing him mention her name and frowned as he stood and threw his heavy holdall over his back.

"You're going now?" She asked incredulously, hurrying over to him.

"No time like the present."

He took her in, this was possibly the last time he would see her. She looked a mess but it didn't make him love her any less, didn't make her any less gorgeous.

"But there won't be any trains for at least two more hours!"

"I'll wait in the station." He replied sombrely. "Anything's better than . . . " He didn't finish, thinking better of it.

"Than being here with me?"

"I didn't mean it like that, it's just . . . you know."

She nodded but was suddenly overcome with desperation.

"Don't go, it doesn't have to be this way."

Connor didn't answer, just turned and walked to the door and opened it.

"Goodbye Abby." He said softly.

"Wait! Please! Don't go Connor, I want to be with you . . . "

He walked out and closed the door behind him.

"I LOVE YOU!" She screamed.

Abby felt as though her world had just ended, she'd lost her soul mate. She had always thought that one day they would get together when the time was right and she'd sorted herself out. Now her time had run out, she'd left it too late. Her throat hurt from her sobs and her head throbbed too.

Connor got about halfway down the corridor before her words finally sunk in. He stopped and let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. Was she serious? Did she love him or was she just frightened of losing him? The more he thought about it, the more Connor realised that he couldn't live with himself if he walked away without finding out. He seriously doubted that he would ever love anyone the way he loved Abby Maitland.

He turned on his heels and strode back into the flat, opening the door with such force that it banged against the wall, startling a still sobbing Abby. He dropped his bag on the floor and their gazes locked as he stalked towards her with purpose.

Abby looked like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure of what he was about to do. Had he decided to stay or was he coming back for another argument? Maybe he'd just forgotten something. Her heart pounded in her chest, ringing in her ears as he came face to face with her and a small smile began to tug at the corner of his lips. Was he . . . ?

Her thoughts were cut short as Connor wrapped his arms around her tightly, one around her waist and the other around her shoulder. He dipped her down low and gave her the most passionate kiss she had ever received in her life.

When he brought them back up, Connor scrutinized her face carefully to try and gauge her reaction. She was still crying but as he continued to look into her eyes, her lips quivered a little, then they moved upwards into a smile that was soon beaming at him. He felt the relief wash over him and returned the smile, wiping her tears away with his thumbs.

"Please tell me that means you're staying Connor, because I don't think I could handle it if you're not."

Connor pulled her against him in a fierce hug, stroking the back of her head with his large hand.

"I never wanted to leave you." He whispered against her cheek.

"I love you so much Connor, I'm sorry for everything."

"I'm the one who's sorry Abby, I mean, you really hurt me but the things I said, they were horrible."

He pulled away slightly, not wanting to lose contact and they smiled at one another again.

"You really mean what you said? That you want to be with me?"

Abby nodded and slid her hand down his arm to grasp his hand tightly.

"For always."

Connor looked up and closed his eyes, silently thanking whoever it was up there that had offered his mangled heart a second chance.

"I was just so scared that if we got together then it would go wrong and I would lose you." She explained. "Turns out that I lost you anyway."

"No, no Abby you haven't lost me."

He leant forward and kissed her, this time for comfort.

"I'm so tired."

"Me too, come on."

Connor took her hand and led her to her bedroom. They both lay down and Abby curled against him. She had been right, what they had, it was so much more than sex, it was special. Sure, the sex would be good and Connor couldn't wait but there was no rush. Just laying here with Abby in his arms was enough, he just hoped that in the morning she hadn't changed her mind. After everything that had happened he just couldn't seem to keep his mind away from such thoughts. Connor knew that it would take him a while to feel truly secure in their relationship but it would surely be worth it.

The next morning when Connor awoke to a smiling Abby running her hand up and down his chest before drifting lower, he knew that he was right. It was most definitely worth it!

The End