Is it over already!?

How am I going to get through the next two years, not knowing the fate of my favorite dinosaurs and their pet humans? You guys have been great, thanx for every read. It made me smile and I hope this story gave you some smiles too. Or... it made you raving mad and now you're writing fictions of your OWN ideas for how Jurassic World 3 will pan out. But hey, we've got plenty of time to hypothesize!

Thanks again everybody.

}{}{}{}{

10 MONTHS LATER

"Maisie!" Claire yelled up the stairs for the third time. "They're waiting!"

The loft of the cabin was quiet, as it had been for the last fifteen minutes. Claire didn't leave time for a response, mounting the stairs in exasperation. That girl could drag her feet! Maisie had been raving and packing, practically bouncing off the walls for this since Wednesday; yet her ride was here and was nowhere to be found! Claire reached the landing and crossed to Maisie's door. It was the only bedroom in the loft above Owen's well-crafted living room. He had finished it, the bedroom, and the entire cabin by spring. Claire had convinced him to add her own touches by the end of summer. Now, it was feeling like a home.

"Maze-" Claire peeked in to find her juggling her suitcase and sleeping bag. Her eyes widened over the state of her bed… and dresser… and window seat. "This… you call this room CLEAN!?"

Maisie looked about, shrugged to Claire. "Nothing's on the floor."

"I asked you to clean everything up, not just the floor." Claire leaned on the knob, glaring at her. Maisie shuffled her feet, hoisting her sleeping bag into a better grip. "Dad said it looked fine."

"Because he can be trusted when it comes to cleanliness." Claire pulled a book off her dresser. Was that two weeks worth of dust?

A horn sounded from the driveway. Maisie took the distraction and dodged past Claire for the stairs. "Tina and her mum are waiting."

"Uh uh." Claire chased after her. "You've been getting sloppy with this-"

"Claire!" Owen yelled from the front door. "They're here!"

Thanks for the obvious heads up! Claire blew her breath out. She caught up with Maisie, brow knitted with dead seriousness. "Have fun. But this conversation is to be continued."

"Sure." Maisie didn't look back, bolting down the stairs with her load. Claire watched her jump over the last step and beeline for the door. She couldn't wait to leave… Claire's throat thickened at Maisie's excitement. It was her first sleepover with a few friends from school. When were the little things going to stop blowing her away?

Don't you DARE cry! Claire scolded, taking herself down the stairs. There wasn't a need. Maisie was bursting with new color and courage every week; refining Claire's belief in their decision about her future.

Dr. Inger's journal was with Iris, Maisie's adoption papers were with the state, and if any rumors started up- in or out of InGen- Claire and Owen weren't alone in stopping them.

"Got everything?" Owen checked Maisie's backpack at the door. "Sleeping bag, pjs… silly string?"

Maisie giggled, zipping it shut. "All three colors."

"List of prank calls?" Owen grinned, Claire in his peripheral as he reached in his jeans pocket. Did he honestly have a copy of it?

"I got it." Maisie adjusted her grip on her sleeping bag. They shared a mischievous grin and Owen high-fived her. "Make me proud."

"Call us if you need us." Claire mentioned, joining them on the door.

"I'll be fine." Maisie promised, already on the porch.

"But you have your phone, just in case." Claire called after her. Maisie threw her pack into Mrs. Harley's van, then waved before getting in with Tina. Did that mean she did have her phone or not? Claire sighed. It's probably lying somewhere in her tornado of a room!

She didn't have time to ask as Mrs. Harley honked again and drove off. They faded down the drive, letting the sounds of twilight surround the cabin again. Claire took a breath of the fresh air she was accustomed to, then closed the door.

Owen let a sigh echo to the rafters; then suddenly hoisted Claire off the ground. He smacked their lips together. "Thought she'd never leave."

Claire twisted, getting him to release her. "Do you ever just savor the moment?"

"When the moment's right." Owen glanced back at the door with a chuckle. "Wonder which string she'll use."

None. Claire begged the heavens. It was a constant power struggle as to what constituted as fun for Maisie. Unfortunately, Owen would win most of the time. Claire glared at him, then turned sly. "She'll forget about it silly string... once they start talking about boys."

Owen leaned back on his heels, surprised. "That a joke?"

Claire cocked a brow. "I joke when it suits me." She sidled up to him, hands around his warm waist. "And the mood is right."

"Our first night alone in months," Owen's eyes traced her face. "and that gets you in a joking mood?"

Claire shrugged, getting closer. Owen didn't question it, shrugging back and kissing her. Claire's mind burst with color and her concentration went to finding the couch. No, no! I have to...

"It..." Claire stopped, pushing Owen away. "It also gives us the chance to talk."

Owen's grin wilted. "Silence is an underestimated communicator, Claire."

"Owen-"

"Honey," Owen tettered her in his patronizing way. "Our lips need energy for later."

"Ugh," Claire slipped out, making for the kitchen. "You always have to act the pig?"

"Your reactions make it all worth it." Owen followed her. Claire warded him off farther, grabbing peas and asparagus out of the freezer. Her cell rang out and she dropped them to snatch it up. "It's Zia."

"Claire, c'mon."

"Probably about the grant money." Claire tossed him the peas. "And it gives me an excuse to have you start cooking."

They both would be relieved at that. Claire walked back into the living, where Zia's confidence beamed through the phone. "We got it, boss! All seven investors are on board, their checkbooks ready."

Even being sure of it didn't dull Claire's own beam of achievement. "Finally. We'll need to schedule the transfer-"

"I already did." Zia told her. Claire paused in her pacing. "You could've texted that. Why call me?"

Zia snorted. "Why else?"

Claire hung up, regretting showing confidence in Zia for anything. She wasn't supposed to know, but the vet remained surprisingly intuitive. Either way she did, and Zia had been pestering Claire for two weeks. But finding a quiet moment hadn't been easy. Reforming the DPG and building InGen's reputation back up had been a full-time job and then some. Claire had carefully negotiated for InGen to fund the majority of California's rebuilding after containment of the outbreak. This was meant as an olive branch to the public, the majority of whom were glad the dinosaurs were extinct once again. It wasn't much, but it was a start, along with everything else.

The means and influence of the auction had allowed for some speices to inhabit other countries, almost splitting the world on who's jurisdiction they fell under. And just like that, the protests and activists were back on their picket lines, boasting the animals' rights. Claire flexed her fingers, recalling their hover over the exit button... she forced that memory on herself every time a debate got too heated. There was a fine line between standing one's ground and remaining neutral. Slowly, she was navigating it pretty well.

Owen had given his answer more dramatically, leading the 2.0 version of InGen's security. Franklin worked between both of them, one whiz among the dozens on their technological team. And Claire was going to be the corporate manager for the new company, just like Senator Sherwood intended. Steering the research and handling public relations; just like at the park. Claire felt the weight of the responsibility, only it was different. Or rather she was.

But that's not what tonight's about. Claire re-entered the kitchen, celebratory smile still in place. Owen looked up expectantly from the warming stovetop. "We got the money?"

Claire nodded. "We can hope to build a new headquarters this summer."

Owen tore open a box of rice, but caught the drop in her tone. "We're ready; for whatever comes with it."

"If you mean the crazy, then yes." Claire nodded. "But given our history, I doubt it'll reach a four on the crazy scale."

Owen smiled, nodding in agreement. "Still, thought you'd sound more Xena Warrior Princess about it... you want me to call, set up the contracts for you?"

Claire eyed their cabin's craftsmanship with admiration. "You don't want to build it from scratch?"

Owen's eyes sparked. "I can have blueprints made up in three hours."

"Thanks, but no.' Claire stopped him, even though it was teasing. She switched her phone to silent. "And I am excited- relieved, if I'm being honest. Just... this' our night. No work... just us."

"Okay," Owen passed her the rice. Claire searched for a pot to boil it in.

"Which part of us should we talk about?"

Claire let the water rush into the pot, her thoughts racing with the motion. "Something... I think you'll like. I didn't even plan for it."

"Well, we all gotta grow sometime." Owen snickered. Claire snapped the water off and turned to face him. "Ok, drop the dry sarcasm for a few minutes. I need you to be- kinda serious here."

They stared across the island, the awkward silence rising, until Owen turned the heat low under the vegetables. Claire gave a steadying breath, stepping over to the bread box. It was Owen's mother's, only they didn't use it; so it had been the perfect hiding place. Claire pulled out the bracelet box she'd wrapped in ribbon. Why? She didn't know, but it seemed a nice touch at the time. She moved around the island, where Owen could see it better. He eyed it, then her. "It's too early for birthdays and our anniversary-"

"No." Claire passed him the box, trying to hold the anticipation down. Owen's expression dampened. "Did you go and buy Maisie that blue tooth type thing?"

"Did I-" Claire gawked, fists rising in exasperation. "Owen, open the stupid box!"

He did, throwing the ribbon in unneeded flair. A second later, he dropped the lid. His eyes bulged up at her. "For real?"

Claire nodded, smiling through the tears she'd been fighting. "I had to be sure, so I saw a doctor last week-"

Owen closed their gap, the pregnancy test joining the lid on the floor. Claire shared his joyful kiss, too happy for anything else. Despite everything- and all that laid ahead- life was moving forward. As it always would.

}{}{THE END}{}{