Title: A Life Unexpected
Fandom: Primeval
Character(s): Emily Merchant; Abby Maitland; Matt Anderson; Connor Temple; Jess Parker; Hilary Becker; James Lester.
Pairings: Memily; Conby; Jecker
Rating: G (K+)
Summary: Post 5x06. When Emily begins to feel a sharp pain on the way to the ARC Menagerie, she has no idea that both her life and Matt's is about to change, as her water breaks while she and Abby are talking. First Primeval Fic.

Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, if it did then S6 would already be filming. The only characters I own are Baby Anderson-Merchant and little Nicholas Temple ^^

Author's Note: After the wait, here is the next chapter. I don't know whether this is the end of the story, or if I should put in an epilogue. I'm also not sure on the ending of this chapter, so forgive me if it's not up to par.

Thanks to 'Asheryve' and 'The Pieces That Don't Fit' for your encouragement and nudges to get me to finish this. Also, a special thanks to Esmerelda Diana Parker for the idea of a name suggestion, I hope you like it ^^

Chapter Four

It was getting dark outside the Anomaly Research Centre, or ARC as the building was affectionately referred to by those who spent their working lives within it's walls. However, the dark was of no concern to the small group of people who could now be found in the facility's medical bay where two members of the leading team were welcoming a new addition to this rather dysfunctional family they had made for themselves.

Jess Parker bounced on the balls of her feet slightly as Matt Anderson and Emily Merchant's new and unexpected baby girl was passed around the small congregation. The poor newborn had to be taken from Becker, who - even with his vast military experience and training - had not been prepared for the crying fit he would set off after making a face at the little girl, which she didn't like.

Matt remained seated on the edge of the bed Emily occupied, his arm remained draped across the back of her shoulders as he watched with hawk-life attention the movement of his new daughter. Emily's brown eyes were closed as she rested her head lightly under the irish man's slightly stubbled chin, after she had finally given into exhaustion.

Lester had popped by a short time ago, after Jess had informed him of the new arrival, and in usual Lester style, had stiffly congratulated them and gave them the rest of the week off as they got used to the idea of having a new addition. Matt had chuckled at the man after he had left, but he had yet to hold his new daughter.

It wasn't that he didn't want to - he did- but he feared that, although this was not something either of the pair had planned on, the little girl could disappear into thin air at any moment; that she was just a dream he had of a family with emily. Emily had given him questioning looks when he hadn't asked to hold the young baby, but – being able to read the man-from-the-future better than anyone – she had seen the concern and underlying fears of the new father.

Feeling Emily shift slightly against him in her light slumber, Matt turned away from where he had been watching Connor, as he took the little girl from Abby, and turned his blue eyes down to his chest where Emily's head shifted slightly. Using the hand he placed on Emily's shoulder, the Irishman carefully brushed a few vagrant curls from the Victorian woman's face. Emily mumbled slightly at this, but her eyes remained closed. She had managed to stay awake for a short time after delivery of the unexpected arrival, but couldn't keep herself awake – the others couldn't blame her.

"She's so tiny," Connor was saying, as Matt turned back to his colleagues and friends. "She's smaller than Nick was."

"And she seems to like you," Jess said with a smile, as she moved from her position on the other side of Becker, to see the little girl take a firm grip on Conner's finger.

"Yeah she does, doesn't she?" Connor smirked as he gave the team co-ordinator a goofy grin. "But I reckon she'll have Matt wrapped around her little finger."

"And most likely you and Becker too," teased Abby, as she put a hand on Connor's arm, while she used her other hand to gently push a sleeping Nicholas back-and-forth in his pram.

"Highly unlikely," Becker scoffed, with a look of indifference. "You won't find me playing babysitter for either of you," he said, motioning to the two sets of parents with a look. Connor and Abby shared a smile at the soldier's adamant belief, as Matt gave his military colleague a raised eyebrow.

"Keep thinkin' that, mate." Connor joked, before he passed the little girl to Jess, who held her arms out to receive the newborn enthusiastically, after arriving shortly after Lester had left. "Here ya' go."

Jess brought the little girl to her, her face lighting up, as the little girl's nose wrinkled in a yawn. Watching the reactions to the newborn amongst his friends, Matt couldn't help but feeling slightly envious of how easily it was for them to interact with the little girl, even if Becker's reaction to the girl was less natural than Jess, Abby and Connor- even Emily.

As Jess allowed baby Anderson-Merchant to take a hold of her finger, Matt's attention was brought back to the Hospital bed he sat on, as Emily began to awaken from her light slumber. Raising a hand, Matt used a finger to gently brush a loose curl that had fallen across Emily's eye out of the way for a second time, as the Victorian woman lay with her head on his chest.

Emily shifted her head slightly, as she remained in Matt's half-embrace, the vibrations of Matt's soothing voice rousing her from the light slumber. Opening her tired brown eyes, Emily noted the lights in the infirmary had been turned down so as they were not too bright to blind tired eyes. Swallowing, Emily turned her head slightly to take in the small group, who had quickly become a circle of close friends, before turning her eyes to Matt, who broke his vigilance for Blue to meet Brown coloured eyes.

"Hi," Matt murmured, as he gave his partner a soft smile.

"Hello," Emily whispered, as she looked around, until she found her new daughter in Jess' arms.

"How are you feeling, Emily?" Becker asked, noting Emily's awakening whilst Abby, Connor and Jess watched Matt and Emily's new daughter.

"Tired, but I am well. Thank you." Emily said, offering the soldier a tired smile, before turning her eyes to Jess, who made a move to pass the baby to her mother but Emily stopped her with a slight shake of the head. "She seems content to stay with you, Jess."

Jess smiled, as Matt rubbed hand up and down Emily's arm , as Jess queued the new mother into their conversations while she slept. "I was just about to ask Matt, if you'd thought of a name for her yet?"

Emily smiled but shook her head. "Not quite yet."

"Well, I'm sure whatever name you choose, it'll be perfect." Jess smiled as she gently bounced the little girl.

"How about Tinkerbelle?" Connor asked off-handed, causing the group to turn to the younger man who seemed to shrink back a little beside Abby who rolled her eyes and shook her head. Only Connor's mouth could get Connor into trouble.

"They aren't going to name her after a pixie from a Children's movie, Temple." Becker chastised gravely with a shake of his brown haired head.

"Fairy." Connor corrected automatically.

"Since when did you know so much about Disney films?" Abby asked suspiciously, as Emily and Matt shared the same puzzled expressions.

"No reason," Connor answered a little too quickly, not wanting to confess to watching some of Abby's Disney collection from her old flat. Abby gave him a raised eyebrow and pointed look which instantly silenced the younger man as if to say 'Stop digging a hole you won't get out of, Con'.

"As Jess said," Becker interjected, turning attention away from a very flustered Connor. "I'm sure that the name you choose will be adequate."

Just then, one of the nurses on the night duty came over. "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are about to end."

Noticing the clock, the team noted that it was nearly 10PM. Jess made a slight 'O' with her mouth as she moved to carefully place the little girl in Emily's arms, before planting a kiss on Emily's cheek. "Congratulations."

Emily smiled, as she looked over the newborn, almost protectively. "Thank you."

Abby and Connor came over to the pair, having been there since Emily and Matt had welcomed their new daughter into the world. Abby came over to Matt's side; while Connor went over to stand beside Jess, his smile belying his fatigue.

"She's beautiful, Emily." Abby said, repeating her earlier sentiments, as she gave Matt a kiss on his cheek and then walked around to offer the new mother herself, a half hug. "We'll come and see you tomorrow, alright?"

"Alright," Emily nodded to her unexpected birthing partner and sent Connor a smile as Matt gave Abby a wink and grateful smile. "Thank you again, Abby, Connor."

"Anytime." "No probs," The couple answered simultaneously, and Connor and Abby switched positions and the Science geek gave Emily a fumbled peck on the cheek and hug. He then offered a hand to Matt, who took it and the two men, shook hands.

"Congratulations Mate."

"Thanks, Connor." Matt nodded, squeezing the younger man's hand in a silent thank-you for his actions earlier in the day. Connor seemed to understand and nodded before Abby and Temple moved aside and Abby began to push Nicholas toward the door.

Becker came over and planted a gentle kiss on Emily's cheek. "Congratulations, She's beautiful."

Connor's laugh could be heard from the other end of the Medical bay as he called back. "That's not what you said an hour ago when she wouldn't stop cryin' on ya'."

"I was...Caught unawares, Temple." Becker called back as Emily gave Matt a questioning look, but the man just shook his head with a small smile and looked toward his friend sympathetically.

"I'm sure whatever occurred, the captain did nothing wrong." Emily voiced, as her thumb brushed over her daughter's curled fist. The weight of the baby was something Emily was becoming accustomed to, and she found it reassuring.

Becker gave her a small smile and nodded his head toward Matt, whose attention had once again gone to new mother and baby. Not waiting for acknowledgement, Jess took Becker's arm gently in her hand and guided him toward the door as the team took their leave of the new parents. Lester had given the team the day off tomorrow due to the late night he had foreseen them having in all the excitement of a new extended addition to the team. He had done the same when Abby had given birth to Nicholas also.

Matt rested his head against Emily's as he watched over his girl – no, girls, Matt corrected himself as he lifted a hand to take hold of the little girl's curled hand in his own. He was captivated by the tiny features and the delicate skin of the newborn.

"So, what shall we name her?" Emily asked, breaking the companionable silence. The question had been on her mind also, but after Jess' question, she was now seriously considering the question.

"I-I don't know." Matt answered honestly. "I haven't really thought about it."

Emily nodded in understanding, before asking gently. "What was your mother's name?"

Matt's thumb stilled on the little girls hand. He couldn't remember the last time he had mentioned his mother, or even thought of her name. But it returned to him now, as he remembered asking his father the same question when he was much younger.

'Saoirse' Gideon Anderson had whispered to a younger Matthew Anderson who ingrained the name to memory, a name fitful of his mother's irish roots.

"Saoirse" Matt answered quietly, as if the name sent a wave of pain through him- thinking of a woman he had never known, but whom he held a place in his heart for. Gideon had always said he was more like his mother, than Gideon himself. The name meant 'Freedom'.

"Saoirse." Emily repeated slowly; letting the name play on her tongue, as an idea came to her.

"Charlotte Abigail Saoirse Anderson." Emily tried out slowly.

Charlotte, for the friend she had lost.

Abigail for the friend who had helped the two time travellers since the day Emily entered this time and who had aided Matt in the completion of his mission.

And Saoirse: in memory of Matt's mother.

Matt didn't comment on Emily's suggestion immediately, but allowed himself a moment to take in the idea. It would be a beautiful name for the little girl, and Matt couldn't have picked a better selection himself. However it was the last name of the baby that caught him unawares.

"Anderson?" Matt asked in a whisper.

Emily gave him a small smile. She had been thinking about it since she had given birth to the little girl. In Emily's time it was unthinkable for a woman to bear a child out of wedlock – especially a woman in Emily's position; it would have been a scandal that would have seen her exorcised from every social circle she had walked in. But she also loved Matt, more so than any man she had ever courted. She had meant every word.

"Yes." The Victorian woman answered simply. "It's her father's name after all. And I could not have picked a better choice for her father."

Matt gave Emily a kiss, lifting her head slightly to meet her lips without saying a word. Her remarks warmed his heart beyond words, and her support in his none existent parenting skills surprised him. Looking down at his daughter now and thinking of Emily's choice in name – he liked it.

"I love it.." Matt murmured into Emily's hair. " And I Love you."

"And I, you." Emily murmured, as the two parents watched a newly named Baby Charlotte sleep contently in her mother's arms while grasping her father's finger.

They were connected to each other now. They were a family.

Fini?

Or would you like an Epilogue? It would probably be a moment between Matt and baby Charlotte, seen as he hasn't held her yet. Or that could be a one-shot in it's own right... Or it could be something different entirely - You decide ^^

Oh, and here are the Name Meanings for those interested:

Charlotte: Free Man
Abigail: Father rejoiced, or 'fathers joy'
Saoirse: Freedom

As always, reviews are love ^^