The next morning everyone is sitting inside the loading docks. SOme are being taken care of by paramedics, some are waiting for family to arrive, some are being interviewed by news stations, and some are just waiting for the next boat. Riley limps over to the two boys and their aunt with a small smile. Zach sees her a few feet away and stands up to meet her.
"Hey," he greets her. He holds out his hands as he sees her limping she takes hold of his arms steadying herself.

"Hey," she greets back.

"How's the leg?" he asks seeing a proper bandage on it finally.

"It's great." she looks down at her thigh. "It's all stitched up. No major artery or tissue damage. The doctor said I was lucky. The bullet just nicked me."

"Good."

"They tried to give me crutches," she says almost offended.

"The never these people have don't they know who their dealing with?" he jokes. Zach raises his hand and pushes some loose hair away from her face. his fingertips trace over her forehead and along her jaw until he's cupping her cheek. He runs his thumb over the bruise Hoskins left behind. He knows it's wrong, but he's glad the bastard is dead. He looks down into her eyes and she swears he's about to kiss her, and she's about to let him. But they never get the chance.
"Oh my god it's your parents. It's your parents," Claire call over to him. Zach whips around to see his mom and dad making their way over to them, and they're both in tears. They each hug their boys closely and Claire hugs her sister. Riley watches the happy reunited family that's when Owen comes up behind her and wraps his arm around her shoulders. She smiles up at him and puts an arm around his waist as well. Claire walks over to them and her and Owen stare at each other as if they're trying to read each other's minds.

"So...what do we do now?" she asks him.

He looks down at Riley and shrugs. "Probably stick together," he tells her and she starts to smile. "...for survival." he finishes and she can't help the grin on her face.

"You know," Riley says as she they all start to take a walk outside the loading hat where your sister lives right Claire?" she asked recalling her a Zach's conversation about back home.

"Oh boy," Owen groans.

One Year Later

"Owen! Are you dressed they'll be here any minute!" Riley yells from the kitchen of their new home.

"I don't know why I have to get dressed up to see a bunch of people I already see all the time who know I wear sweats everyday," he complains like a little kid as he walks down the hall in his white button up and fiddling with his untied red tie.

"Because," she says pulling a bowl of freshly popped popcorn out of the microwave, "it's Christmas. It's our first christmas in the states since we've been together and I want it to be nice." Owen pouts and takes a piece of popcorn from the bowl. Riley swats his hand away but he eats it anyway. "Hey that popcorn is not for you. It's garland for the tree."

"Fine," he grumbles. "Will you at least help me tie this thing?" He holds up to two ends of his tie.

"Here I'll help." Claire come out of the dining room. She came over early to help out. Which in Claire means tell them everything they're doing wrong and fix it. Her and Owen have had an on again off again relationship the past year. Their latest fight being the topic of kids. Obviously Owen wants kids. He's take care of Riley her whole life so more kids would be no problem. Plus with Riley leaving for college soon he's suffering from slight empty nest syndrome. Claire however is unconvinced she'd be a good mother to anything living. So they have their issues but they usually find a middle ground and who knows maybe this compromise will lead to them getting a puppy. Riley wouldn't object to that. But no matter what the fight Riley still has hope for them yet.

"There." Claire finishes up a perfect knot on his tie and tightens it. Both girls smile up at him but he just grabs another handful of popcorn and leaves pouting. "You know he's going to change out of that and hour into the night right?" Claire asks Riley who's now stringing garland together.

"I know, but it's always fun to torture him," she jokes and both girls laugh. The doorbell goes off and Riley immediately perks up. "They're here." She runs down the hall and opens the door to reveal all of the Michelles. KAren and Andy got divorced in July. They realized if they had actually stayed together it would have only been because they're boy went through a life or death experience. So they had a civil divorce. They stayed close for they're boys sake and came to Owen and RIley's house every holiday together. It was a set up both Zach and Gray could deal with especially seeing how happy their parents were separated rather than together. "Hi, come in," RIley greeted them. She gave each one of them a hug and making sure she gave and extra tight one to Gray, until she got to Zach. He smiled at her and looked her over in her green sweater and red jeans. "Hey," she smiled at him. He pulled her closer giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas," he tells her. Zach and Riley had been going strong ever since the park and were even going to OSU together next fall. Riley was going for animal studies and Zach was going for mechanical engineering. Owen took everybody's coats and Claire took the presents and positioned them under the tree perfectly. Everyone gathered in the living room and they all listened to christmas music while the decorated the and drank hot chocolate and eggnog. Riley sits back and watches their small christmas knowing that she could be anywhere in the world right now, but she didn't want to be.

"Pie for your thoughts?" Owen hands her a piece of chocolate pie with whipped cream on top. She takes it with a smile and sticks a fork full in her mouth. "Whatcha thinking about?" he ploped down on to the couch next to her.

Riley sets the pie in her lap and looks over everyone once again. "We've alway made our own family right?"

"Yes," Owen says suspiciously wondering where she's going with this.

"After mommy and daddy died we made our own family just the two of us."

"Where are you going with this kiddo?"

"And then you remember, you were looking for a brand new start somewhere we could start our lives and not have to worry. And there was this really annoying theme park that kept harassing you about a job opening for some animal specialist position. and you thought you would never take that job. But you did and we made a family with the raptors."

"Yeah," he says still curious. She looks back over to the family in her living room throwing popcorn at each other. "I'm glad you took the job." She leans her head on his shoulder. "I think this is the best family we've made yet."

He smiles. "Me too."

Zach looks over to them and smiles at her. He walks over and looks at Owen. "Is it okay if I steal her for a moment sir?" he ask politely.

Owen narrows his eyes at the boy. Owen liked Zach Riley knows this. But it still feel he has to intimidate him "Yeah go ahead," he finally says. Zach holds out his hand to he. She gives Owen the rest of her pie and takes his hand so he can lead her away. Just as Owen takes another bite of her pie Claire notices the stolen desert and starts yelling at him. In the chaos Zach steals a present from under the tree and leads her upstairs. He pushes her into her room and closes the door quietly behind him.

"Here," he hand her a thin rectangle wrapped in shiny paper. "Hurry and open it before aunt Claire realizes it's missing." She takes it from him with a smile and walks over to her bed. She sits on the edge rips off the paper to reveal a familiar object. Her mouth drops open. "I never know what to get people," he say trying to gauge her reaction. She runs her fingers over the smooth glass of the picture frame. "Aunt Claire had to pull a lot of strings to get that." Inside is the picture she had to leave behind with the rest of her stuff on the island. She's a smiling little girl with four little raptors around her. She covers her mouth as tears well up in her eyes. "Your crying," he says defeated. "I'm sorry I told I'm awful at getting gifts. I should have gotten you-" she silences his babbling the way she always has. She presses her lips tightly against his.

He pulls away shocked which is just the emotion he's corresponded with Riley just as a whole. "Thank you," she whispers. "It's perfect." She looks down at the picture again.

"Great," he groans. "No I'm never going to know what to get you again." She giggles at his ridiculousness and leans into kiss him once again.

The rest of the night was perfect. Owen changed out of his dress clothes and into sweats before dinner had even started, Claire was still obsessed with everything being perfect even though it never was, Zach got an earful for stealing presents before it was present time. Everything was amazing.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you tomorrow?" Zack asked as they were all saying their goodbyes for the night.

"No. It's the first time we've been in the states since my parents death. Visiting their grave is supposed to be a family thing." Zach nods in understanding. "Plus I'll probably cry and then my face will be all red and puffy and gross," she complains.

"Oh then never mind," he jokes. She rolls her eyes and he cups her cheek lovingly. Out of the corner of his eye though he sees Owen staring at them from the kitchen. Zach quickly drops his hand and takes a step away.

"Oh come on," she groans.

"What?" he fends innocent.

"He likes you. I;ve told you this a million times. You can't be afraid of my uncle forever."

"The man was in the military, he trained raptors for a living and he helped take down the biggest baddest living thin to date!" Zach exclaims.

"The man also played fairy princess dress up with me when I was five," she argues. Zach thinks it over before nodding.

"Okay that helps." He cups her cheek once again and she stands up on her toes to try and kiss him. "Umm," he pauses. "Your uncle is still watching us."

"Good." She whispers and finally kisses him. When she pulls away he rests his forehead against his.

"I love you," he tells her and she smiles.

"I…" she pauses and pulls away. "will see you when I get back," she teases. He shakes his head at her and doesn't care that Owen is standing a few yards away. He pull her in for a deeper kiss. She laughs a pulls away. "Okay, okay." He smiles down at her and she returns it. "I love you too."

Hey guys so that's it i finally finished I spent all night finishing these last two chapters because I'm not going to be near a computer for the next two weeks. Seriously I think I got an hour of sleep when i dozed off. So I'm sorry if there are spelling mistakes. But I finished it and I can't wait to see your guy's reaction to the ending while I'm away. This has been a really fun story to write i hope you've liked reading it. Thank you for all of the favorites and follows and be sure to review and let me know what you think of the conclusion.