Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.

Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.

A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54. Takes place after Collision Course and prior to A Journey Begins

7.7 The Parkers

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess called Alexandra after lunch. Jess leaned against the refrigerator as she spoke into the phone. A magnet on the bright white machine held takeaway menus. Her red sleeved arm snagged the magnet as her sister greeted her. Jess disentangled the magnet and restored the menus to their place on the fridge as she listened to the woes of flat hunting.

"We're going to Kensington Park in a bit," said Jess when she finally got a turn to speak. She picked the flat key off the counter and slipped it into the pocket of her dark blue jeans. "Would you care to join us? I'd love for you to meet Hil's family."

Alexandra glanced at her husband. William was still talking with the realtor. He was holding Phoebe and shifted the tired child from one shoulder to the other.

"Jess, I wish we could really," answered Alexandra regretfully, "but we've still got three more flats to look at."

The tiredness in Alexandra's voice could be heard through the cell phone. Jess glanced across the tiny flat. She watched Becker help button up Nan's coat.

"Phoebe's the same age as Nan. I think they would have fun together," said Jess. "Maybe dinner?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Gwendolyn pulled the serviceable older model mini-van into the car park near the entrance to the Princess Diana Memorial playground at Kensington Park a short while later. Becker's mother placed both hands on the stroller grip and peered inside with a fond smile. The woman draped her cane from the handgrip.

"Go ahead now," said Becker's mother. "We'll catch you up at the pirate ship."

Gwendolyn and Meg led the way towards the playground followed by Jess and Nan. The brightly colored train carrying a load of dinosaurs painted on the brick wall caught Meg's attention.

"Do you think dinosaurs really looked like that?" asked the dark haired little girl.

Jess turned to see if Becker or his brother-in-law had heard Meg's question. Becker had an amused grin on his face.

"I don't know Meggie," replied the child's mother. "What do you think?"

"The green striped one has sharp teeth," answered Meg. "It sort of looks scary."

The sandy lot complete with pirate ship appeared as the little group turned the corner.

"The purple dinosaur is pretty," said Becker, "but I like pirate ships best. Race you!"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess was out of breath as she and Gwendolyn went to rejoin Becker's mother on the park bench. The older woman was rocking the stroller back and forth, watching Meg, Nan, Gwendolyn's husband and Becker as they climbed all over the pirate ship.

"Oh I need to sit down," said Gwendolyn with a chuckle.

"I'll have to bring my nieces and nephew's here soon," said Jess.

Jess sat on the bench next to Becker's mother and began to untie her trainers. She dumped out the sand from the first shoe.

"How many nieces and nephews do you have Jess?" asked Becker's mother.

"Two of each," replied Jess with a happy smile. She dumped out the sand from the second shoe.

Becker's mother gave an answering smile.

"It will be fun to watch them all growing up together," said the older woman. "My younger sister married a Yank and moved so far off that we hardly ever got to see them."

"Hil mentioned his cousin," replied Jess. "I thought they were close."

"They are close," agreed Gwendolyn.

"Travelling is so expensive," added Becker's mother. "It's not like they grew up in the same town."

"Mum," reminded Gwendolyn, "people don't just stay in the same town these days, they move all around now."

"My father's work took my family all over Europe," volunteered Jess. "Two of my sisters were born in France, Alexandra was born in Austria. I'm the only one born in England."

The older woman shook her head.

"I never have quite forgiven my sister for moving so far away," Becker's mother said with a wry grin.

"Where were you born Jess?" asked Gwendolyn.

"Weymouth," replied Jess.

A gleam lit up Gwendolyn's eye.

"Really?" Becker's sister asked. "Right in the middle of the Jurassic Coast?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess opened the door to the flat later that evening. William carried Phoebe inside and Jess followed.

"How was dinner?" asked Alexandra. The dark haired woman sat on the sofa nursing baby Ruth.

"Phoebe didn't eat more than a bite or two," replied William. "Phoebe, Meg and Nan spent most of the time in the ball pool."

William walked down the hall to put Phoebe to bed. Jess opened up her cell phone to take a picture of her sister and newest niece.

"Do you mind?" asked Jess. "I'm trying to restore my photo collection."

Jess's old family photographs had been ruined several years ago when the fire alarm sprinkler system had gone off unexpectedly while she was at work. By the time she'd got home, everything was soaked. The collage that Becker had put together was one of the few group pictures she had of her family.

"Jess," said Alexandra, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for dinner, but…"

"No, you have nothing to be sorry for," interrupted Jess. "You can meet Hil's family another time."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess met Becker in the break room at the ARC on Monday morning. He was pouring a cup of coffee. Becker held the pot up towards Jess. She shook her head.

"I didn't get a chance to talk to you yesterday," said Jess with a bright smile, "it's been a bit busy, with everyone visiting."

Becker chuckled.

"Oh yeah," he agreed.

"I received an invitation," said Jess.

"Really? What kind of invitation?" asked Becker.

"My cousin Ned is getting married in a few months," answered Jess. "Will you be my plus one?"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Alexandra and her family finally found a place of their own close to Kensington Park. And when Marjorie brought her family to visit from Manchester, Jess got to see Charles, Peter and Phoebe on the great pirate ship in the play area. She told Becker all about it later that evening.

"You're breaking up Jess," replied Becker. "What did you say?"

"Charles climbed on the alligator head in the sand," repeated Jess "he said it was a dinosaur coming up from the sea."

"There's too much static on the line. I can barely hear you," said Becker. "We should be back from Edinburgh on Tuesday."

"I'll tell you all about it when you get back," promised Jess.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Becker and Jess joined Alexandra, William and their daughters for Christmas dinner. Marjorie's in-laws were visiting so she and her family stayed in Manchester.

"You should come up for New Years," urged Marjorie. Her voice carried across the room from the speaker phone.

Becker was shaking his head, as was Jess.

"Marjorie, Hil has to work New Years Eve," replied Jess. "And I've got to work New Years Day."

"Then tomorrow," said Marjorie. "You can come for Boxing Day."

"No," said Jess. "We've already promised Hil's mother we'd see her then."

It was a short while later when Evie and Sharon called from Bruges.

"The minister and his wife are still here," said Evie. "Mum and Dad can't come to the phone, but they send their love."

The two women talked a bit longer, then when they were getting ready to disconnect, Evie said the same thing Marjorie had said earlier.

"Sorry to miss you at Christmas, but we'll see you soon for Ned's wedding!"

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Lester sent Connor to Montreal. The dark haired scientist was only supposed to provide technical support, but sometimes plans change.

"Becker," said Lester. "Our Canadian counterparts need some security training also. We've got special clearance for you to take whatever weapons you think necessary."

"Canada?" asked Becker. "For how long?"

"Until it's done," replied the ARCs director. "Do try to keep Temple out of trouble… and yourself too."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Jess wore the brightly colored scarf Hil had sent her when she and Abby drove to Bristol for her cousin Ned's wedding. Abby really enjoyed meeting Jess's family.

"Your Granny Parker is just grand," said Abby on the long drive back to London. "The stories she told… I can't believe she had your father blushing."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Becker and Connor finally returned from their extended journey. Becker had sent Jess a brightly colored scarf from Montreal and See's Chocolate Candies from San Francisco. He called to tell her he was hand carrying the gift from Vancouver.

"We'll be on the flight back to London tomorrow," said Becker. "I'm sorry I missed your cousin's wedding."

"You don't have to keep saying you're sorry Hil," replied Jess, "I understand work sometimes gets in the way. I just wished you had met my parents. They're so seldom in England."

And when Becker finally got back to London, Jess was at the airport to meet him. The present Becker brought wasn't opened until the next morning.

"Ohh, Hil," gasped Jess. "It's beautiful."

The pretty bentwood box, carved like a totem, was brightly painted in shades of yellow, orange and green.

"The artist said I could have any box I wanted, after we got the Deinonychus out of her studio," explained Becker. "She was really grateful."

"Oh really," said Jess. She looked at Becker, but he was pointing to the carving and continued talking about the box.

"According to some Native American mythology," said Becker, "the cricket symbolizes a singer and is associated with springtime, water and good luck."

Becker didn't think he would mention the part about fertility symbolism.

"And in England," replied Jess, "crickets are good luck."

"The present I brought you is inside," added Becker. "The Canadian Blend coffee is really strong."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Work continued to be entirely too busy. It wasn't until the summer bank holiday, that Jess and Becker were both able to take an additional day off and go to Brighton. Becker finally got his wish… Brighton… sand… sun… no computers… and Jess wearing the teeniest yellow bikini he'd ever seen.

"Did you just take my picture?" asked Jess.

"Absolutely," replied Becker. He tucked the cell phone away and picked up the sun tan lotion. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to see you in a bikini."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

"Mum and Dad are in London this weekend," squealed Jess excitedly. "They want to have dinner together on Saturday and meet you."

Becker had a chance to nod in agreement before the anomaly alert sounded.

-x-x-x-x-x-x

After all this time, all Becker really knew about Jess's father was that the man worked in the United Kingdom's foreign office, had red hair and hadn't worn a beard since his long ago wedding. Becker had seen more recent pictures of the smiling woman who was Jess's mother. And of course he'd met all Jess's sisters.

"It's not like you're going back to Afghanistan," Becker told his reflection in the shiny lift door. "It's just dinner with Jess's parents."

Becker shifted from one foot to the other as the lift continued upwards. The lift bell rang and the doors opened. Becker stepped out into the hallway. An older man with streaks of gray showing in his bright ginger colored hair was waiting for Becker. And the tall soldier recognized him.

"You," started Becker, "you were in Afghanistan."

"No," replied the older man. "We've got to be clear on that."

"Clear on what?" asked Becker.

"I was never there," said Jess's father. "Don't tell Margaux. She doesn't like it when I get involved in covert operations."

-x-x-x-x-x-x

Becker followed Jess's father inside the flat. Jess was in the kitchen chopping vegetables. A woman with dark chestnut hair was setting plates on the table. She looked up as the two men entered the door.

"Jess," called the woman "your father has brought someone home."

Jess gave Becker a bright smile and set the knife down on the cutting board. She hurried towards Becker and her father.

"Hil," greeted Jess. She stood up on tiptoes to kiss him.

"It looks like you've already met my father George Parker," continued Jess. She turned to face the dark haired woman. "And this is my mother, Margaux Parker."

-x-x-x-x-x-x