A/N: SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT. I'm not dead. Just stressed. College is a thing now but that means I will have ample time away from home to write in private and properly. If you guys are at all interested, I've also started an AU for Owen and Zach on AO3. If enough interest is gained for it there I'll bring it to this site too. It's a shifter/A/B/O monarchy AU. Thanks for your patience guys.

purplepidgeoncommandbase: Guess you'll have to see about Hoskins! I promise he will be dealt with by the end though...
Actual-Grendel: Possible raptor cuddles to come! But certainly Zach and Owen cuddles...
Devi Bellezza: I hope the wait was just as good for this chapter!
TasTygerGal: I like writing as the raptors. Especially Blue. It's so much fun.
DidoPrince: Get smutty, eh? I'm workin' on it. ;)
Guest: I hope your entrance exams went super good! Don't let my story relax you TOO much! haha!
Shiikun: Hopefully the wait was good!
The Ravenwood: Updated!
N.E. .1: I fully intend to go into their relationship. I like things to be built up, not just suddenly come into existence, you know?
He-who-runs-into-walls: Oh 100% they grill him. For sure.
dog demon katsune: Honestly I can't wait to get to the part where Scott and Owen meet. They definitely will.
The Cat's Meow 92: I loved reading your review. Please leave me another one. I do have a plan in mind for this story, and for their relationship to work I need to the I-rex to escape. It will probably happen next chapter; THANK YOU abundantly, for real! Your review always makes me smile.

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Claire sighed, hanging up the phone with Zara. Her assistant promised the boys were safe, and had decided to try out the gyrospheres. It had been the first project Claire had volunteered to test before the park opened, and she would never forget the way it made her feel. Weightless, like she was floating a foot off the ground and speeding across the land of her own power, like she wasn't in a giant ball. It was a good feeling.

A good feeling she was missing at the moment. Masrani had called her shortly before Zara, firmly 'requesting' that the paddock inspection for the Indominus be moved up. Unsurprising seeing as the new exhibit was already months behind schedule. The Indominus had been trouble from the beginning, but this late in the game it wasn't as though they could just toss all the research out the window. The animal was going to be a great asset for the park, and she couldn't wait to see the numbers spike after her reveal.

Pouring herself another cup of coffee from the thermos at her desk, she put two sugars and one cream in it before standing from her chair and walking towards the window of her office. It was above the labs in the Hammond Research Labs, and overlooked Main Street on one side and the forest on the other. Today she chose the street view, and stared past her reflection to the many families below. The fountain needed to be cleaned of coins she noticed, watching a child make a wish on a penny. She gleefully cheered when it plunked into the water, and jumped back to her parents. They held mounds of bags and wore the dinosaur hats which were complimentary at various rides, and they headed back towards the hotel further down the strip.

Vaguely she could remember a time when her own parents had taken her to an amusement park. The tickets were meant for Karen and her friend from school, but her sister had ended up taking her instead. Claire couldn't remember how old they were, probably in their teens by then. What she did remember was being sore from laughter by the end of the day, and a warmth between them she hoped would never dissipate. With each passing year, that closeness had faded. Claire immersed herself in her studies and Karen took on household duties as their mother became more and more ill. The cancer was spreading, and it was becoming obvious very quickly there wouldn't be coming back from it. As young as she was, Claire didn't blame Karen for lying to her when she asked about their mother's health.

It's okay to lie when people are scared.

A roar from outside in the park jolted her from her memories. She checked her desk clock. Rexy's feeding time, right on schedule. The builders had ensured the room was soundproof, but there was only so much one could do to keep the Queen's roar from being heard.

She sighed, and took a rather large gulp of the hot coffee before turning back to her desk. Papers neatly stacked into three piles: one that could wait, one that needed to be overlooked, and one that simply needed a signature. Rolling her wrist at the mere thought of it, she sat at the desk to finish the paperwork before heading out to see Owen Grady. He wouldn't be too happy about the move up in schedule, she imagined. But then they all had to do things they weren't happy about.

"Owen that was stupid."

The raptor trainer glared at his friend, thick arms crossed against his chest. The hot sun beat down on them, and the humidity made sweat drip down the back of his neck. Barry continued his glare until Owen looked up to see it from his desk. Rarely could any of the trainers be found in the office at the raptor compound, but someone had cleaned the place. Now that everything was in order, doing the paperwork would be easier, even if it still made them cranky.

"Nobody got hurt. And the boys enjoyed it! Nobody gets to see the girls. I think it was good for them." He responded resolutely, looking back down at the form he had to fill out. Since the kid had fallen and Hoskins was there to see it a proper report was needed. Something about a different method of catching the pigs, or higher guard rails.

"Okay sure, but Owen? People walk around bombs without them going off sometimes, too."

Owen looked up at Barry, trying to evaluate how angry the man actually was. There were certain levels of anger he could get by, and he knew that. But depending on what level this was… he gaged it at a high six. Too high. He sighed, rubbing his face and looking through his fingers briefly at his friend.

"Nobody was here to see, if it's the secret that you're worried about."

Barry barked a laugh, shaking his head, "There are always people here to see. We are just lucky they can keep secrets."

"Right, so what's the problem?"

"Can the boys keep secrets?"

Owen looked around his office, thinking briefly of how many secrets the Mitchell brothers kept. He looked up at Barry, and whispered sincerely, "They can."

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Zach had read about gyrospheres in the pamphlet Gray had given him. The whole science part of it was fascinating, but he wasn't sure he necessarily wanted to sit inside one. Jimmy Falon wasn't the most convincing in his video, either.

He closed the Jurassic World app, which he had found while perusing the store on a whim. It was essentially the entire pamphlet and then some, all on the phone. It made him wonder about getting Gray a phone of his own soon, so that the kid didn't have to break his back carrying all his books around. Next he closed all the apps he wasn't using, and then opened the messages.

7 from a girl at home.

1 from a man in Jurassic World.

Zach felt his heart flutter as he tapped the message open, closing his eyes briefly before opening them to see the text. It shouldn't have made his heart beat as fast as it did.

'It's Owen. The Girls miss you. So do I.'

Feeling a flush descend from his ears to his cheeks to the column of his neck, he licked his lips and tried to think of a reply. Typically his texts were short and to the point; it wasn't like he had much to say to the few friends he had. Or family, for that matter. In the end he settled for something much less neutral and leaning to the side of affectionate. He wished he had better social skills.

'Miss you too.'

Not miss them, even though he did. Not Gray misses you too. Nope, just Zach. Just how it was meant to be.

"Zach!" Gray reached up and tugged on his arm. "It's our turn. Can I get the blue one?" The teenager had entirely forgotten they were in line at the Slurpee stand, and blinked a few times before nodding and looking over at the employee across the counter. "Hey," he did his best to ignore the putout look the girl was giving him, "can I grab two blue raspberry please? Larges." The girl blew a bright pink bubble and popped it, smacking it between her lips before nodding and turning to fulfill the order.

Within ten minutes, the two brothers were happily drinking their melting drinks and walking leisurely towards the tram. Zach was thankful for their wristbands, blue and thick around their wrists. Even if Claire couldn't clear her schedule to be with them, it was a nice perk. He wasn't sure if he could really forgive her for disappearing from their lives with the rise of her fame in Jurassic World. Even he couldn't argue that Claire knew numbers. She knew how to build a kingdom.

Only Zach also remembered that she used to know how to snowboard. And that she taught him. And had promised when she left after their last ski trip together that when Gray was big enough she would come back and teach him, too.

"Hey Zach?"

The eldest brother caught the toe of his shoe on an un-level piece of sidewalk and stumbled, catching himself on Gray's shoulder. He took a breath to steady himself and kept walking as he answered.

"Yeah?"

When there wasn't a response, he turned to look at the youngest. Gray appeared agitated by something, the typical bounce in his step replaced by something much more sombre. There was a beat, and then he sighed, looking up at Zach with a small smile.

"It's nothing."

Zach hummed in return, but held his brothers gaze until the younger looked away. Something was wrong in Grays world and Zach would do anything to fix it. Including getting inside a hamster ball. They would get to the tram in a few minutes, and then go on the ride and everything would be forgotten, so he hoped. Nervously, he discreetly pulled out his phone and unlocked it, dimming the brightness so no one else could read the screen. He texted Owen.

'Wish you were here.'

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Owen had no sooner got back to his bungalow, cracked open a coke, and sat down to work on his bike when a white vehicle appeared over the hill across the way. He could see it in the distance, and sighed, pulling away from his bike to reach for another tool. Wrench in hand, he leaned back over the engine of his bike, trying his best to ignore the crunching of gravel beneath expensive wheels.

To no avail, as fate would have it.

He looked up as Claire got out of the car, closing the door with a satisfied 'thud'. "What do they want now?" he murmured, more annoyed than curious. Masrani needed to relax when it came to progress; some things could wait. Claire apparently could not. He wiped his hands on the cleanest cloth he could find while he watched her check her appearance in the window. He didn't know what she was concerned about. She was easily one of the most beautiful women he knew. He looked back to his bike in feign disinterest when he saw her turn towards him.

"Mr. Grady," she began, coming to a stop in front of him. He glanced her way with a raised eyebrow at the greeting. They were long past the whole last name thing. This must be important.

"I need you to come and take a look at something."

She was uncomfortable. Claire looking out towards the water and at the trees around them, before seeming to accept the fact they were going to have a conversation. She looked at him, clasping her hands in front of her expectantly.

"Why are you callin' me 'Mr. Grady?'"

"Owen," she corrected herself, flushing slightly under his stare. Some things never changed. Claire continued, "If you're not too busy."

Clearly he was very busy. Owen smirked a little, before taking a swig of his coke, "Oh, I'm pretty busy."

"We have an attraction," she tried again, leaning back on one leg. Annoyed, no doubt, that she was being forced to maintain conversation with him outside. It had never been her element, he recalled. On their first date most of the activities she was interested in were indoors. The humidity killed her hair, which she loved straight even though he promised the natural wave was adorable. Not that anything would have worked between them anyway… he supposed. He tried for playful.

"That's not what you said last time I saw you."

"I'm talking about the dinosaurs, Mr. Grady." Irritated.

"Owen." Equally as irritated.

A black fly began harassing her, no doubt because of the lovely perfume that broke through the oil smell around his bike. He stood and sauntered over, catching the insect in his hand and crushing it in one fell move. Her lips quirked up, impressed he knew, before going back to their usual disdainful frown.

"A new species we made."

Owen shook his head, grabbing the cloth from his back pocket and wiping fly guts off his palm. "You went and made a new dinosaur?"

"Yeah it's kinda what we do here," Claire glared, clearly exhausted and in mood for games. Owen wasn't finished yet, unfortunately. She continued before he could interrupt her as he came to stand in front of her. "The exhibit opens in three weeks. Mr. Masrani wanted me to," a pause "consult with you."

Owen grinned, deepening his voice as he smirked, "D'you wanna consult here, or, in my bungalow?"

Claire shook her head, but the smile eased her features somewhat. "That's not funny."

Owen chuckled, hopping up the stairs two at a time. "It's kinda funny." Heading around back to collect his things. When he didn't hear her footsteps follow, he checked his phone.

Zach had replied to him, and he felt the irritation of this meeting ease somewhat.

'Miss you too.'

'Wish you were here.'

Smiling at the message, he sent quick reply, before stuffing it in his pocket and heading around front once more. Claire was still there of course, stunning as ever in the white getup. Maybe at one point he wondered what she might look like without it, but now… well he would punch anyone who joked about it.

"Why me?"

"Well, I guess because Mr. Masrani thinks you can control the raptors-"

"See, it's all about control with you. I don't control the raptors. It's a relationship. It's built on mutual respect. That's why you and I never had a second date."

As much as he knew it would rile her up even further, she evidently needed a distraction from work. Even if he thought of himself as her best friend and dare he think it, brother, that didn't mean it wasn't his job to make her life Hell once in a while. And lately the park hadn't exactly been good about keeping Hoskins off his back.

"Excuse me!" She turned to watch him as he headed down the stairs back to his bike. One more time with the ratchet and it would be good to go for a test ride. Perhaps if Zach had some spare time he'd offer him a ride. On the bike of course. Trying to calm his suddenly rapid heartbeat, he answered Claire.

"Who prints out an itinerary for a night out?" Nobody, honestly, but everyone has their quirks.

"I'm an organized person."

"What kind of diet doesn't allow tequila?"

"All of them actually. And what kind of man shows up to a date in board shorts?"

"It's Central America, it's hot!"

"Okay, okay," she sighed, looking up at the sky like it would somehow help her make Owen serious about these things, "can we please get back to the asset here?"

"The asset?" It had always been the one thing that annoyed him about Claire. Really, they were living, breathing creatures. The light in their eyes was undeniable; they were intelligent. These weren't items or pieces on a chess board.

"Look," he began with a sigh, standing and wiping his hands for the last time that day, "I get it. You're in charge out here and you have to make a lot of tough decisions. It's probably easier to think of these animals as numbers on a spread sheet but they're not. They're alive."

Her nose twitched, and she cocked her head to the side for a moment, "I'm fully aware they're alive."

"You might have made them in a test tube, but they don't know that. These animals are thinking, 'I gotta eat. I gotta hunt. I gotta,'" he made a crude hand gesture, grinning at the end from implications. It made her smile too, which was a plus. Owen finished his thought, looking at her and asking forgiveness for being so difficult. "You can relate to at least one of those things, right?"

Claire, still smiling, rolled her eyes and stepped up to him. "Thank you for coming a day earlier than scheduled, Owen. You better change your shirt," she eyed him from shoes to his hair, "they are very sensitive to smell."

He watched her go, trying hard not to laugh. Of course she would forgive him. They hadn't gone on any other dates, but they went for coffee on the rare occasion that she had a free moment in the week. Owen lifted his arm and took a sniff, wrinkling his nose and turning to go inside. A shower would do him well, and he couldn't argue that. He didn't wait for her to drive away before he headed inside, taking his phone out of his pocket as he closed the door. Typically he wasn't so attached to the thing, but… he wanted to see if Zach had said anything back.

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The two brothers boarded the tram and found a seat quickly. It didn't take long for the metal tube to fill up with people, two girls sitting in front of them. A few seconds after beginning the trip, the blonde in front of him turned towards him. A pamphlet in her hand, she cleared her throat until she got his attention.

"Um, hey," she began shyly, "Do you know what the best way to get to the pteranadon house is? From the gyrospheres, that is."

Zach looked at Gray, knowing he would undoubtedly know the answer better than he. The youngest Mitchell was looking out the window however, and appeared deep in thought. Rather than disturb him, Zach reluctantly pulled out his phone. It wasn't a relief to see that there weren't any new texts from Owen. He opened the Jurassic World app and showed her the hi-res map.

"I think if you go down this road, and go around by the northbound tram, you can get to it pretty fast. I guess you could do the kayak thing with the herbivores too though," he said thoughtfully, reading the information off the screen like a textbook. She nodded, and made a note on the map with a pen from the Information booth in the square. "Is this your first time here then?" He asked with a smile, trying for light conversation. A sniffle from his left stopped any light talk however. He tapped the back of the girls chair apologetically, and turned to Gray.

The boy was crying, tears running down his face in increasing amounts.

"Gray?"

"If mom and dad get a divorce will one of us go with mom and one of us with dad?"

"What?" It wasn't the first time Gray had brought up the topic. But it wasn't as though they could just talk about it in public. Panicking slightly, Zach looked away quickly to make sure nobody was listening. When he turned back, Grays shoulders were shaking. "They're not getting a divorce," he responded at last.

Gray nodded his head.

"No, they're not." Zach tried to be firm, he really did. He felt his heart breaking.

"They get mail from two different lawyers."

"So?"

"I Googled. They're divorce lawyers."

That was that then. Gray had found out. Zach wasn't stupid. Whenever Scott took his anger out on him he wasn't quiet about it. He made sure to blame him for everything. Even through the ringing in his ears he could hear what he said, as the foot came down on his belly or the belt across his back. Stomach churning, he slumped into his seat, staring at his hands.

"Well. Whatever. I'll be gone in a few years anyway. And you'll get two of everything. Two Christmas, two Thanksgivings,"

"But I don't want two of everything."

"Yeah. Well it's not up to you. There comes a point where you gotta grow up."

He was saying it to himself more than Gray. And he heard himself say it before he could stop it. The words on his tongue weren't meant for his brother. But as soon as he said them he knew he couldn't take them back. Feeling sick, he returned to his seat and left Gray to look out the window. He wanted to hold him. To pull Gray into his lap and pet his hair and tell him it would all be okay. He knew it would help. Because it was all he wanted for himself in that moment. To be told that it wasn't his fault. The bruises would fade, and had, but the words scarred him. Zach felt responsible, and in that moment on the tram, the weight was crushing.

It took the entire tram ride for them to calm down in their own way. Gray had put his hand on top of Zach's, and rested his head on his shoulder. The shaking had subsided, and Zach grabbed his hand to hold. Nothing had to be said. Zach felt light again, and Gray smiled at him gently. In no time afterwards, they were off the tram and heading through the humid jungle towards a hill. On a whim and with a deep breath to steady himself, Zach pulled out his phone to check for texts. What he saw in response to his earlier affections made him blush.

'Wish you were here too. You'd like it. It's pretty far from the park though.'

Zach stared at the message on his phone, Gray leading him through the crowd towards the top of the hill where the gyrosphere ride boarded. Zach knew he was beet red, and his fingers trembled as he typed up a response.

'So we'd be alone then?'

His finger hovered over the button to send it for a moment, before someone bumped into him and his thumb brushed over it anyway. He gasped audibly and turned off the screen of his phone, mortified. Zach stuffed it in his pocket and tried his best not to think about what he had just implied.

"Zach look! A sphere just came back!"

They flashed their wristbands, Zach missing the small gaggle of girls watching him entirely. Gray was going on about how DNA from dinosaurs was preserved, and if he had a mind for biology he would have paid more attention. For the moment however, his mind kept wandering to Owen whether he wanted it to or not.

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A/N: Thanks for your patience guys! Let me know what you think. This is the conversation in text so far!

O: 'It's Owen. The Girls miss you. So do I.'
Z: 'Miss you too.'
Z: 'Wish you were here.'
O: 'Wish you were here too. You'd like it. It's pretty far from the park, though.'
Z: 'So we'd be alone then?'