Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Christmas Party

Chapter One

It was that time of year again, thought Connor. Amazing how quickly it came around, each year seeming shorter than the one preceding it. This Christmas would be special, though. His first Christmas back from the Cretaceous! And his first Christmas as a man engaged to be married - his last Christmas as a bachelor- he hoped! Oh yes! This Christmas was just going to be brilliant!

"Hey, Connor!" a female voice interrupted his reverie. "All set for the ARC work's party tonight?"

"Yep!" he replied, 'popping' the 'p' loudly, a huge grin lighting up his face. "It should be great!"

"Oh, it will be, I can promise you that! Emily and I have supervised the decorations and the food! It all looks wonderful." Jess giggled in her excitement.

"Can't wait!"

"Can't wait for what?" Abby asked, joining the pair at the ADD.

"The Christmas party!" Connor replied, kissing Abby's cheek and curling his arm around her waist. Abby looked pleased, but surreptitiously glanced at Lester's office to make sure he couldn't see them.

"I'm really looking forward to it too. Haven't had a 'bop' in ages!" Abby said.

"Do you know what you're going to wear?" Jess asked.

"Yes…it's…"

"OK, girls!" Connor interrupted, looking pained. "If you're talking dresses and make-up, I'm off to the lab for a bit. See you later, yeah!"

"Connor…you won't be back late, will you? We need to get ready for the 'do' tonight... promise!" Abby frowned.

"I promise. I'll be home at six on the dot! Not even Princess Leia herself will keep me one second later tonight!" he leant in to whisper in Abby's ear. "Can't wait to dance with you and kiss you under the mistletoe!"

Jess caught the word mistletoe and suddenly squealed, making both Connor and Abby jump.

"Mistletoe! We forgot the mistletoe! Quick, give me the phone, Abby! We've got to have mistletoe!"

Abby and Connor exchanged a smile, and Connor left the two women to it. He went into his lab and closed the door, looking out of the window for a moment to check no one was about before pulling a box out of his pocket. He carefully opened the box, being sure not to tear the tissue paper inside, and revealed a silver heart necklace with three diamante stones at the edge, on a long silver chain. He gently lifted the heart, and opened the locket. He'd placed a small photo of Abby in one side, and another of himself in the other. Sitting loosely inside the heart was a small folded piece of pink paper with the words- 'Marry me, pls- 2013? I love you'.

He snapped it shut again, making sure the paper was safely enclosed inside. He was going to give her this gift tonight. He couldn't wait until Christmas. This was going to be his 'Best Christmas Ever!' present to her. He'd already got her something else for the big day itself which was already wrapped and safely ensconced under their tree at home. Chiding himself for being such a sentimental fool, he carefully re- wrapped the gift and put it back into his pocket. He just wanted to let Abby know how much she meant to him- he never could find the right words, so he hoped his actions would say it for him. What was that old saying- oh yes 'actions speak louder than words.' He really hoped so!

~~oOOo~~

Becker was in corridor C testing the security camera. Cam 7 had been moved by the maintenance staff in error, and he was now adjusting it.

"How's that, Jess?" he asked over his comms unit.

"Now it's too far to the left. I can only see the wall!" Jess replied, looking at the screens on the ADD.

"How about now?" Becker had twisted the camera back, and Jess got a full close- up of his face. She took in a deep breath for a moment, just revelling in the vision of his gorgeous eyes and long luxurious lashes. His hair had one lock falling out of place by his right eye, making him appear a little more dishevelled than usual. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched him dreamily.

"Jess?" Becker queried. She had gone silent, forgetting to speak at the sight of him

"It…it's lovely!" she finally breathed.

"What?" Becker asked, looking straight down the camera lens. "Lovely?"

"I er…I mean…perfect. It's perfect, Becker. Good view of the corridor, I mean. Excellent! Good! Well if there's nothing else...?" She suddenly pulled herself together, glancing around, hoping that no-one else had noticed, pink staining her cheeks.

Becker smiled to himself as he climbed down the ladder. He was really taken with Jess, even he had to admit it. He was seriously considering doing something about it. He was just biding his time, that was all…

Jess took another breath and rolled her eyes. That man had the effect of making her say the most ridiculous things! She thought about the red sparkly dress she planned to wear at the party, and smiled. She really hoped that maybe, just maybe, Becker would ask her to dance tonight. She really liked him and sometimes she thought he liked her too. She sighed and went back to work. She had a diagnostic to run before she could even think about tonight, or Lester would have her head! Oh, she just couldn't wait for this party!

~~oOOo~~

"Connor!" Abby yelled. "Can you help zip me up, please? I can't seem to get it!" her voice was muffled as if she was struggling with something.

"Sure!" Connor's voice said from the bedroom door. His hair was flat against his forehead and his body glistened with droplets of water from the shower he'd just had. He'd wrapped a towel around his waist to hide his modesty, and Abby gulped when she saw him, but chided herself. He looked so 'hot' but now wasn't the time or the place to get amorous.

Connor stood behind Abby and admired the smooth skin of her back as he wrestled with the zip. He never had been good with these things, he thought as he clasped the tiny slider and started to zip up the dress. He leant in and kissed her back, his stubble covered chin brushing against the soft skin, making her shiver.

"Connor…" she whispered, her voice husky.

"Mmmm, Abby…you smell gorgeous!" Connor mumbled in response.

He spun her around until she was standing face to face with him. They moved their faces close together, lips almost touching, but not quite reaching. They looked deep into each other's eyes for a moment and then moved closer and Connor finally captured her mouth with his, their tongues tangling together as they embraced. As they drew apart breathing hard, Connor held Abby's hands in his and looked her full in the eyes. Abby lost herself in those dark brown liquid puppy dog eyes for a moment, before Connor hesitatingly spoke.

"Abby, I have something to give you…" he looked down, feeling nervous as he always did when wanting to express his feelings. "Here…"

He pulled the little box out of his pocket, and practically thrust it at Abby in his haste. Abby looked surprised and turned the box around in her hands.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Open it, and you'll see!" he laughed at last, shuffling his feet in his desire for her to open the package. "It's my 'Best Christmas Ever' present from me to you. I hope you like it!"

"Oh, Connor! You shouldn't have! I…I didn't get you anything, well except the Christmas gift that's under the tree."

Abby felt a shiver of excitement as she slowly opened the box. Connor shifted from foot to foot, resisting the urge to pull it from Abby's hands and open it for her. Finally she opened it, and Connor nervously watched her face to see if she liked it.

"Oh, Connor! It's beautiful!" she almost melted as she held the delicate locket in her hands. Abby turned the locket over, it really was beautiful, she thought with tears misting her eyes.

"Er….youneedtoopenit." Connor said quickly, nervously wondering what she'd say to the little pink slip sitting inside the locket.

"What?" she asked, a frown on her brow.

"You…you…need to…" he gestured with his hand that she should open it, and she turned her attention back to the sparkling necklace.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as she saw the two pictures in the hearts. "That's lovely! Thank you so much, Connor!"

"No! Wait! There should be something else… a note…" he stuttered, looking on the floor as he spoke. Abby looked down too, and saw a little scrap of pink paper at her feet.

"Do you mean this?" she asked.

Connor just nodded, looking very agitated She slowly unfolded the little piece of pink paper, intrigued to see what it had written on it- Connor was acting very oddly, nervous and a little pink cheeked. It reminded her a lot of the early days before they got together. How scared they'd both been then- each wanting the other, but neither daring to be the one to say the words. Connor was obviously still too scared to say the words out loud- hence this tiny piece of paper she held between her thumb and forefinger. What could it be, she wondered. Only one way to find out…

She took a deep breath and after another quick glance to see Connor's reaction, she opened the folded paper and read the tiny writing. Her first thought was to wonder how he'd managed such small writing- he usually scrawled all over the page when he wrote. She shook herself and concentrated on the words. As she read, she felt Connor shift in front of her, and slowly raised her eyes to catch him staring at her with what she could only describe as 'hopeful terror' written all over his face. She felt the tears prick her eyes- this meant the world to him. It also meant the world to her, and she flung her hands around his neck and pulled him to her in a slow, deliberate kiss, savouring every moment.

"Yes, Connor!" Abby whispered. "Yes, please!"

Connor suddenly gave a loud 'whoop' and lifted Abby up high in his arms, and spun her around. As he slowly let her down, he captured her lips once more, and in retaliation, she whipped away the towel around Connor's waist and pulled him on to the bed.

"I do love you, you know." she breathed. "I love you so much!"

Connor's couldn't breathe. His mouth was dry and he swallowed a few times, trying to force out the words he wanted to say. He was tongue tied by happiness and desire, and the only way he was able to respond was by falling back on that old saying- 'actions speak louder than words' and he captured Abby's mouth with his own once more, and showed her exactly how he felt….

To Be Continued…

Hope you enjoyed this- not enough fluff? Oh OK, more just for you in the next chapter…enjoy!