Fandom: Primeval
Characters: Abby/Connor
Story: Pennyroyal
Rating: R/16 (may be less, but I'm erring on the side of caution)
Warnings/Spoilers: Dark! References to abuse and abortion, some violent imagery
Author's Note: An antidote to all the Baby!fic floating around these days. ;)
Summary: Sometimes, a plan B is needed.
Pennyroyal
It tasted pleasant enough, she thought as she slowly sipped the concoction. The warm liquid had a sharp, minty flavor that almost seemed like a normal herbal tea. Even though it decidedly was not.
She hated keeping this from Connor, but she knew he wouldn’t understand; wouldn’t get the huge danger they’d be in if they had more than just each other to look after and protect in this deadly world.
Silently, she cursed herself for not being more careful. Their small stash of condoms had run out weeks ago, but they’d managed to work around that. Between alternative activities, and her clockwork regularity helping with safe timing, she thought everything would be fine. And it was. For months, it had been smooth sailing. But then there was that one night. The night when hands and mouths just weren’t enough, and when she wanted it there, that way, and nothing else would do. There was one more safe day, she’d told him, easing his concerns, and he readily relented. But then the clockwork stopped.
It was eight weeks gone, now, and there was no blaming it on stress or poor nutrition or any other lie she could tell herself to believe this wasn’t happening. With him, yes. But in another world. A safer world. Not here, and not now.
At least she knew what to do. If there was one good thing her father had left her, between the harsh Catholic school and the beatings, and … that … it was that she’d had a reason to do this before, 10 years ago. Then, it was a matter of poring through botany books at the library, looking for a secret way—one that wouldn’t risk his holy wrath if he’d caught her going to the clinic.
She wasn’t looking forward to the eventual pain, but fortunately, this time she’d caught it earlier. The better timing meant she could hide this from Connor, when she couldn’t hide before. It had happened two days later than the books said it should, and while she was at school, in the middle of exams. She’d dashed to the toilets, the nauseating, relentless cramps wracking her body as she tried to manage what was happening. But the pain was nothing compared to the horrified reactions of the sisters who found her writhing on the floor in a pool of blood. And the aftermath was even worse: Expulsion, foster care, standing up in court… Ultimately, it had ended well enough. Her father was put behind bars, and died two years later, freeing her and Jack to live on their own with a sizeable inheritance, but at the time, it was a nightmare.
Now, however, it wouldn’t be so chaotic. Weeks earlier, plus a stronger brew meant it’d all be over within a day. A little begging off of Connor’s attention, a little more dried moss than usual and a little deeper to bury it to keep the scent from attracting predators. Simple. Neat. Easy.
He strolled back into their shelter, proudly hauling a hefty catch of fish. “Hullo, love!” He called to her. “I’ve brought home the bacon! Ehm. So to speak.” He grinned and leaned over to drop a kiss atop her head as she finished draining the cup.
Yes, this would be easy, she thought. In every way but one.
--End--
Characters: Abby/Connor
Story: Pennyroyal
Rating: R/16 (may be less, but I'm erring on the side of caution)
Warnings/Spoilers: Dark! References to abuse and abortion, some violent imagery
Author's Note: An antidote to all the Baby!fic floating around these days. ;)
Summary: Sometimes, a plan B is needed.
Pennyroyal
It tasted pleasant enough, she thought as she slowly sipped the concoction. The warm liquid had a sharp, minty flavor that almost seemed like a normal herbal tea. Even though it decidedly was not.
She hated keeping this from Connor, but she knew he wouldn’t understand; wouldn’t get the huge danger they’d be in if they had more than just each other to look after and protect in this deadly world.
Silently, she cursed herself for not being more careful. Their small stash of condoms had run out weeks ago, but they’d managed to work around that. Between alternative activities, and her clockwork regularity helping with safe timing, she thought everything would be fine. And it was. For months, it had been smooth sailing. But then there was that one night. The night when hands and mouths just weren’t enough, and when she wanted it there, that way, and nothing else would do. There was one more safe day, she’d told him, easing his concerns, and he readily relented. But then the clockwork stopped.
It was eight weeks gone, now, and there was no blaming it on stress or poor nutrition or any other lie she could tell herself to believe this wasn’t happening. With him, yes. But in another world. A safer world. Not here, and not now.
At least she knew what to do. If there was one good thing her father had left her, between the harsh Catholic school and the beatings, and … that … it was that she’d had a reason to do this before, 10 years ago. Then, it was a matter of poring through botany books at the library, looking for a secret way—one that wouldn’t risk his holy wrath if he’d caught her going to the clinic.
She wasn’t looking forward to the eventual pain, but fortunately, this time she’d caught it earlier. The better timing meant she could hide this from Connor, when she couldn’t hide before. It had happened two days later than the books said it should, and while she was at school, in the middle of exams. She’d dashed to the toilets, the nauseating, relentless cramps wracking her body as she tried to manage what was happening. But the pain was nothing compared to the horrified reactions of the sisters who found her writhing on the floor in a pool of blood. And the aftermath was even worse: Expulsion, foster care, standing up in court… Ultimately, it had ended well enough. Her father was put behind bars, and died two years later, freeing her and Jack to live on their own with a sizeable inheritance, but at the time, it was a nightmare.
Now, however, it wouldn’t be so chaotic. Weeks earlier, plus a stronger brew meant it’d all be over within a day. A little begging off of Connor’s attention, a little more dried moss than usual and a little deeper to bury it to keep the scent from attracting predators. Simple. Neat. Easy.
He strolled back into their shelter, proudly hauling a hefty catch of fish. “Hullo, love!” He called to her. “I’ve brought home the bacon! Ehm. So to speak.” He grinned and leaned over to drop a kiss atop her head as she finished draining the cup.
Yes, this would be easy, she thought. In every way but one.
--End--