There was a pressure on his chest when Zach woke up. For a moment, he thought he couldn't breathe again. But then the pressure disappeared, and suddenly, a soft, worried voice asked, "Zach?"

Zach would recognize that voice everywhere.

Opening his eyes, Zach was met with Gray's worried blues.

Unable to bear the sight, Zach's eyes immediately softened, and with a voice just as concerned as Gray's had been, he breathed, "Hey."

The smile Gray gave him in return was as bright as the sun. But then tears started welling up in his eyes and before Zach could say anything, Gray collapsed against Zach's chest and began to let out heart-wrenching sobs. Knowing instinctively why Gray was so upset, Zach immediately wrapped his arms around the younger boy, trying to give what comfort he could. Zach was so focused on Gray, he only realized that there were others in the room with them when he felt hands cradling his own.

Surprised, he looked up, and was met with the tear-stained eyes of his mother. She was smiling sadly at him, at them both, and when he offered her a small smile in return, she clutched his hand tighter, afraid to let go.

Just as tightly, a hand had grasped at his shoulder. And just as he knew the voice was Gray's, Zach knew that the hand was his father's. He looked up at him, expecting to see impatience there, expecting to see nothing, because he was going to leave them, wasn't he? They probably meant nothing to him anymore. But all the emotions Zach saw on his father's face told him otherwise.

It's been so long, so, so long since his father looked at him with anything other than disappointment, since his family was actually a family, that tears began to form in Zach's eyes as well. He hugged Gray tighter, buried his face on his brother's soft curls, and let it all out; his pain, his sadness, his joy and relief. Zach knew this wasn't going to last, but he reveled in the love pouring out from the most important people in his life anyway, wishing, hoping that this would be enough to remind them of what was and still could be.

When Gray loosened his arms around Zach, Zach did so as well. Gray sat up slowly, their mother holding the younger boy steady by his shoulders, carefully avoiding hitting Zach. And as Gray moved, Zach could finally see the rest of his visitors.

Claire had her arms around Owen, her eyes filled with tears. Owen, on the other hand, smiled at him when their eyes met, looking at him meaningfully, as if he wanted to say something. A memory tingled at the back of his mind then, something about a promise, and he smiled.

Zach had never felt so lucky his entire life.

And so loved.

He looked at them, at all of them, and though still with tears in his eyes, smiled at them as brightly as he could. He couldn't say the words out loud, not yet, but as they too returned the gesture, Zach knew that they understood.

'Thank you,' he wanted to say,

and, 'I'm home'.

When Zach woke up the next day, his dad was nowhere to be seen.

Scott had insisted on staying last night, the need in his voice so palpable that no one, not even Gray, argued with him. Everyone lingered until the last moment, until only he and his father were left. For a while, there was only silence in the room. Zach had no idea what his dad wanted to talk to him about, but he could only think of the divorce. Zach watched as his dad fidgeted in his seat, he was tense, his nervousness making Zach nervous as well. And as the silence stretched, Zach dreaded that nothing might be enough to salvage their family anymore, that his dad was going to tell him that he was still leaving. Zach had resigned himself of this before Jurassic World, but after realizing that this family still had a chance, Zach finally began to hope. Was it wrong of him to hope then?

Suddenly, his father said, "Owen told us what you told him before... at the hangar. Do you, do you remember anything from back then? Do you remember what you told him? Doctors told us you might not so I just wanted to know. Do you... remember anything?"

Zach could sense that whatever his dad was asking was important. So he looked straight at him but couldn't help wonder when it all changed. Zach could still remember ball games and summers chasing after mystical creatures in their backyard, could still remember his father's hands as he lifted him up and spun him around, Gray giggling hysterically as he watched, the sound of his mother's voice telling them to be careful in the background. Everything was perfect back then. When was it that things started to change?

Wondering if this was going to be the start of another change, Zach answered, "I remember bits and pieces. Mostly it's just a blur, like I was floating. Like a dream, I guess? I remember the headache, though," Zach noticed his father's hand had clenched tightly at that, "I remember... I remember making everyone angry. And then leaving. And Owen. I guess I did tell him something, because I remember the face he made. Did I tell him something I shouldn't have?" Worried that he might have done something to tear his family apart, Zach apologized, "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't- I didn't know. I didn't mean to. I know I always screw things up, so I'm sorry-,"

The look on Scott's face was both broken and horrified when he took Zach's shoulders and said, "Zach. Zach, no. No, don't say that. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything wrong. If there was someone who did, it's me. And your mother. That's... that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

"About your divorce?" Zach asked, surprised at his dad's insistence that he'd done nothing wrong but still worried.

His dad winced at that, but he looked at Zach straight in the eyes as he replied, "I'm so sorry you and Gray had to know about that. We both love you so, so much despite how we've been acting, but no son. This isn't about that," seeing the skeptical look on Zach's face, Scott continued, "But we will talk about it, Zach. All of us. As a family. There are a lot of things that need to be fixed between your mother and I, I won't lie about that. But I'm not lying when I say I do love Karen. I always have, always will. I'd forgotten just how much until... this."

Sighing deeply, Scott rubbed at his eyes and said, "I didn't want to be reminded like this though. I could have lost both of you," shaking his head at the what-ifs, he continued, "You and Gray are the best decisions I've made my entire life. You are important to me, Zach. You are not a mistake."

Realizing suddenly what this was about, Zach's eyes widened before he turned away, uncomfortable. This was something he never wanted anyone to know, for fear of being judged. Was this what he told Owen?

Still not looking at his father, and wondering what he could tell Owen, Zach started, "Dad I... That's not, I don't think-,"

Scott interrupted him, however, "Zach," he said gently, "Son, look at me, please?"

Zach didn't want to talk about this though. This was embarassing! Unlike Gray, Zach wasn't someone who could talk about his feelings. He already had to face so much disappointment from his family, ridicule from his friends and people at school... His thoughts were his own, something very close to him. Zach could take being shunned for his actions, because he usually pretended anyway (pretended to be a fool, a jerk, a hormonal teenager, pretended to be someone who hated his brother). But if someone knew what he really thought, what he really felt, and dismissed it, laughed at it, told him it wasn't important... He probably wouldn't be able to put up the act anymore.

It was burden he didn't want to bear on his own but had to because no one else would.

He heard the rustle of cloth as his father stood up, the bed dipping as he sat down at the foot of Zach's bed. He felt his father's hand on his leg and, with so much regret in his voice, Scott said, "Zach, I am so, so sorry for what your mother and I put you through. For what you're going through right now. Your mother and I were so busy with ourselves we couldn't see anything beyond our own problems. What's worse is that we didn't want to. Gray is an open book, it was always easy to understand him. But with you, we didn't even try. Because of that, it was so easy, so easy to put the blame on y-you."

It was the crack in his father's voice that made Zach look, and when he did, he saw pain and regret and guilt in his father's eyes.

"It's difficult seeing someone you love in pain. But it is infinitely more painful seeing your own child hurt because of you. I know there is much we need to make up to you but please," he said, looking at Zach straight in the eyes, "Don't ever think you were a mistake. That you're not important. You are the best damn decision I've made my whole life, Zach. The timing may have been wrong; your mother and I could barely support ourselves, let alone a child. But you were never unwanted. Never unloved. And I am so, so sorry our selfishness made you think you were. That we didn't notice until someone told us. That you don't know how proud I am, how proud your mother and I are, of everything you've accomplished."

Zach had already conviced himself that there was nothing he could do to make his parents see that he wasn't just a screw-up. Hearing his father say otherwise, however, released that burden from his shoulders. Zach thought he'd already cried his heart out that morning but the relief he felt upon hearing his father's apology had him sobbing just as hard.

As he felt his father's arms wrap around him, Zach buried his head at the crook of his father's neck and cried even harder. In response, Scott tightened his hold even more, immensely grateful that he still had his son despite everything he'd been through.

"I love you, Zach," his father had said, meaning every bit of it, "With all my being, I love you."

But where was his father now?

Zach was frowning hard when the door to his room opened and Owen stepped in.

"Hey, uh," Owen said hesitantly, "You're awake! Um, Scott had to leave early; there was something he had to do. So... I'm here instead. Are you hungry? I can buy something outside. What do you feel like eating? I mean, like, cause hospital food ain't exactly the best, right? So..."

He was surprised when he saw Owen at first, but then Zach started to suspect something when Owen began to ramble. Narrowing his eyes at the older man, Zach asked, "There's going to be a party, isn't there? And it's supposed to be a surprise, isn't it?"

Owen's eyes widened in surprise before he cursed and said, "I told Claire I wasn't the best guy for this! I was in the Navy not the friggin' IMF!" smiling wryly at Zach, Owen said, "Sorry I ruined it, kid."

His mood lightening at the revelation, Zach couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, "It's mom's idea, right? Maybe Gray's. Or both? They both like to celebrate every single thing, it's so stupid. What's the excuse now?"

Owen smiled at him then answered, "Homecoming. For you. For all of us."

"Oh," Zach said, blinking, "I guess... that's not so stupid."

"Nope. So," Owen said, clapping his hands, "Are you ready to go home?"

Zach snorted and sarcastically said, "Please. I've been ready since yesterday. Let's get the hell out of here."

"It was your mom, you know," Owen said on the drive home.

"Huh?"

"The one who thought of it. Your mom. Gray was the one who convinced everyone else though. 'Cause your little brother is sneaky like that."

That made Zach laugh, "Yeah, you wouldn't think it of Gray, would you? When we were younger, he could make me do anything. We got in trouble a lot though, but it was worth it."

Owen smiled at that, knowing that Gray could still probably get Zach to do whatever he wanted.

There was comfortable silence for a while, then Zach asked, "Hey, Owen?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"Um, I don't think I said it yet," he said, a tinge of embarrassment coloring his voice, "But, thank you. For coming to save us back at the island. For what you did after. For what you're doing now. Thank you. Dad talked to me last night," he continued, gaze far away, "About what you told him. I mean, I don't remember what I told you but... thank you. For not brusing it off. Thank you."

When he felt Zach's gaze on him, Owen took his eyes off the road for a second to give Zach a sincere, "You're welcome," in response.

Zach grinned at him and settled back on his seat. After a while, he asked, "Hey, Owen?"

Raising a brow at him, Owen replied, "Yeah, Zach?"

"You're staying, right? You're gonna stick around? Aunt Claire said you've been on your own for a while and... well, I think, I think I'd need help for when Gray finally realizes what we've been through, because it's obvious he hasn't. And it's obvious Aunt Claire needs you, too. And I..." Zach hesitantly said at first, and then with more conviction continued, "I remembered what you told me back at the hangar, what you promised. But you know, the same goes the other way around too. We barely know each other, but you've done things for me, for us, that you're not just Aunt Claire's officemate anymore. You're important too, Owen. To me. To all of us. And I... I want to be able to do the same thing you've done for me. So," Zach said, his voice hopeful, "You will stick around, right?"

It's been a long, long time since anyone depended on him, needed him. When he came back from war, he'd been a changed man. The woman he loved couldn't accept what he'd become and left him. His own family couldn't reconcile who he'd been and who he'd become that he had to leave. When he accepted the job at Jurassic World, it wasn't because he was enthralled by the idea of training raptors, though it was a part of it. Mostly it was because he wanted to run away from it all.

He'd convinced himself that he needed no one. That he was fine on his own.

And then Claire Dearing came into his life and changed it all. She was a force of nature. She was brutal and honest and she didn't hesitate to call on his bullshit when he told her why he came to Jurassic World. They argued, then they dated and he screwed it up.

Then the Indominous escaped.

When she asked him to help her find her nephews, he didn't hesitate. It was selfish of him, but he was glad, so, so glad she came to him for help.

And then he met Zach and Gray, two incredible kids who had Claire's fire in them, and suddenly, things changed.

It wasn't just Zach or Gray or Claire who needed him. Owen needed them all as well.

So when he turned to Zach, he answered with all his heart, "I will. For as long as I live, I will."

When the house was in view, Zach could see his mom waiting outside.

Climbing out of the car as Owen parked it nearby, Zach was met by his mother who was, unsurprisngly, smiling tearfully at him. He smiled ruefully at her, and accepted the hug she gave him.

Embracing him tightly, she kissed him on his cheek before saying, "Whenever you have burdens you can't carry on your own, I want you to remember that there are people who love you who will carry them for you," letting him go, she looked at him and with all sincerity said, "I love you, Zach. Welcome home."

Fighting the sting of tears at his mother's words, Zach smiled at her.

Then the door suddenly opened and Gray came barreling through, nearly knocking him to the ground if Owen hadn't steadied them both. His father came out next, and then a harried looking Claire.

Zach looked at them all, his heart swelling with love.

"Welcome home, Zach," Gray whispered to him.

Zach smiled at him, at all of them, as he said, "Thank you," and,

"I'm home."