A/N: Welcome to my first Jurassic World fic! My love for Claire/Owen has been re-realised by the release of the Fallen Kingdom trailer so I thought I'd have a go at writing one before the next film comes out and ruins my hopes of them living happily ever after. Please let me know what you think of it, will be a 3-shot. I love and appreciate any feedback! x
Day 1
Stick together.
It was hardly a life plan, but it was enough for now. It was enough when the pain from her heels was shooting up her legs and in every breeze she could still feel the Indominous' breath on her neck. It was enough when she reached for his hand and he laced his fingers with hers, pulling her to him and cupping her face gently, wiping a stray tear off her cheek.
The moment is broken when she hears Gray calling for her from across the hanger. They make their way over and he throws himself at her. She holds him close and runs her fingers through his hair, and relieved at the fact that he was there alive in her arms. Zach placed his hand on her shoulder and she let go of Gray to embrace him, vaguely aware of Owen wrapping his arms around her younger nephew.
She looks up to see Karen and Scott watching the 4 of them clinging to each other and she lets go to embrace her big sister, sobbing slightly.
"Who's the guy?" Karen whispers through her tears and she can't help but giggle at the absurdity of the situation: her sister asking about a guy when she literally was running from man-eating dinosaurs only a couple of hours before.
She gave her the same answer as the boys. "We work together."
She looked up and met Owen's eyes with a tired smile from where he was still hugging her nephew's. She saw Scott anxiously shifting from foot to foot."We should go." He said. "We've got a hotel suite waiting."
The boys looked anxiously between her and Owen and she found herself pulled into another hug. "It's okay. We'll call you. And we'll try to get a room in the same hotel."
They nodded reluctantly and rejoined their parents, Owen wrapping his arm around her waist as she leant into him. "How about we leave as well? Are we allowed to leave?"
"Who cares anymore?" She muttered. "Let's just go."
He smirked at that. "Why I think I like this Ms Dearing."
"Shut up and let's go." She rolled her eyes at him, before tugging him out of the hanger behind her sister.
"Scott doesn't like you." She murmured into his chest as she lay on their hotel bed in fluffy white robes, both lacking any thing else clean to change into.
"The boy's dad?" He asks as he runs his hand through her wet hair.
She hummed in agreement and fisted her hand into his robe, pulling herself closer to him and breathing in his smell. "He was staring when you were with the boys."
"You sure it wasn't a 'my sons almost died being chased by dinosaurs' stare?"
"That could be part of it." She agreed. "But he definitely doesn't like you."
"Did Claire Dearing just admit she was wrong?" He teased, kissing the top of her head.
"I was wrong." She whispered, her voice thick with tears. "About so much. I was so wrong."
He hushed her and pulled her as close as he could. "Don't say that Claire. It's not on you."
"But it is. Don't you see? I encouraged them. Wanted to increase visitor numbers. This is on me." She whimpered slightly at the end of the sentence, closing her eyes as she felt Owen brush a kiss on her forehead. "I was wrong about you as well."
He chuckled at that. "Well, I was wrong about you too. Thought you were some sort of uptight, corporate bitch." She kicked him slightly, as another small sob escaped her. "Never in my life have I been more wrong about someone. You, Claire Dearing, are one of the bravest and most caring people I know. Thousands of people are still alive thanks to you. I am still alive because of you."
She lifted herself up slightly so she was hovering over him, reaching a hand to stroke his face, her fingers lightly running over his stubble. She frowned as she studied his face, letting out a slight laugh as he turned his head to kiss her fingertips.
"If I ask you out on another date, will you turn up in board shorts again?" He grinned as he looked up at her raised eyebrow and smirking face.
"I'll probably turn up in this bathrobe. It's the only thing I own." She laughed at that, looking at both of their attire.
"Damn, I forgot we need some clothes." She reached over him for her phone.
"Are you asking me?" She hummed distractedly as she typed at her phone. "Claire?"
She put her phone back down. "Karen's going to bring us some clothes from the gift shop in the morning . What did you say?"
He shook his head affectionally at her. "Are you asking me out, Ms Dearing?"
"Depends. Would you say yes?"
"Are you fucking kidding me? Of course I'd say yes." She kissed him quickly at that, looking quite shocked herself as she pulled away.
"Where are you going to take me?"
"I get a choice?" He teased. "I thought I'd just check the itinerary."
She kicked him again, causing him to grumble. "I can take back the offer, Mr Grady." She threatened, opening her mouth to continue chastising him. Before she could get out anything else, Owen pulled her flush against him, a small squeak of surprise escaping her. He crashed his lips against hers, one hand on the small of her back, keeping her close to him, while the other found its way into her damp hair.
"You're not allowed to take it back. Never thought I'd get a second date with Ms Dearing."
She smiled sheepishly. "I never thought you'd want one."
He raised an eyebrow, an 'are you kidding me?' look on his face as he looked her up and down. She kissed him that time, before settling with her head on his chest, his breathing lulling her off to sleep.
Day 2
She thought she'd have nightmares that night. She certainly had them when she was awake: could hear the Indominous' roar in the fan from the ensuite; smell the sweat and gasoline and fear as she lay next to Owen; could feel the pain in her throat after hours of screaming for her nephews, Owen and her life.
That night's sleep was surprisingly peaceful. One minute she was laying awake in the dark on Owen's chest, the next she was waking up as sun streamed into their room. Running for her life after being awake for 36 hours probably had a hand in it: the sheer exhaustion causing the dreamlessness. There was no doubt in her mind that nightmares would be appearing sooner than she'd like.
Owen shifted beneath her and she blushed as she realised where his hands had ended up, creeping under her robe in the night, resting on her bare ass. He opened his eyes and looked at her, sleepily mumbling out a greeting.
"Hi." She squeaked out in response, watching as his eyes widened comically when he realised what he was touching. He hastily removed his hand and began to stutter apologies.
She let out a breathless laugh at the flustered look on his face. "Didn't realise you'd be so grabby in the night." She teased.
"God, Claire, I'm so sorry, I never meant to do that-"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you not like touching my ass?"
He froze at that, not sure how to answer as she laughed at the expression on his face. It felt so good to act normal. To flirt and tease and delay the inevitable conversation which involved death and dinosaurs and other horrors. "You have a very nice ass, Claire Dearing. I've always thought so."
She rolled her eyes at the smirk on his face, allowing him to catch her hand with his, his large fingers playing with her delicate ones. "How did you sleep?" He murmured against her hair.
"Surprising okay, you?"
"The same."
"I'm scared to go to sleep tonight." She admitted quietly, causing him to tighten his grip on her and lightly kiss her head.
"Me too." He said, softly. "I see it when I close my eyes. The teeth."
"Do you think we'll ever get over it?" She whispered into his chest.
"We'll never be the same. But we will be okay. We have each other."
She hummed into his chest. "For survival."
They were dragged from the warm cocoon of the bed when there was a knock on the hotel room door. Owen tightened her grip on her and for a moment she thought he wasn't going to let her get up, but he simply kissed her bare shoulder, which had slipped out of the robe, before letting her cross the room to the door.
A moment later, Owen was bombarded on the bed by an eager Gray, a smile involuntarily pulling on his face as the boy hugged him. He looked up to see Claire smiling softly at him from where she had her arms wrapped around a reluctant looking Zach. Karen awkwardly trailed behind with a bag in her hand as Claire steered her older nephew towards the bed.
"Hi, I'm Owen." He extended a hand in Karen's direction, flashing her a smile as she took it. "I know we didn't get a chance to be introduced properly yesterday."
Karen smiled back, before stepping forward and wrapping a surprised Owen in a tight hug. "I know. The boys have done nothing but talk about you. Thank you." She pulled back and looked at Claire, grabbing her hand tightly. "Thank you both."
They both shifted uncomfortably at the praise, feeling undeserving considering they had no idea what they were doing and the whole event one they'd rather forget. "What are you doing for the rest of the day?" Claire answered instead. "We were going to watch a movie if you and the boys want to stay?"
"Can we, Mom?" Gray asked eagerly. Karen looked at him skeptically, before noticing even Zach looking at her expectantly, his face not showing his usual teenage indifference.
"I suppose." The boys' faces lit up and Gray kicked off his shoes, climbing under the covers next to Owen. "But we have to leave and get dinner as soon as it's finished or your Dad will wonder where we've gone."
They nodded their acceptance as Claire took the remote, climbing under the cover on Owen's other side, curling against his chest. She selected a comedy, none of them ready for anything requiring too much concentration, as Karen and Zach settled next to Gray. It was tight, all 5 of them crammed into the king-sized bed, so Claire allowed Owen to pull her on top of him. He dropped a kiss on her head and twirled her hair round his fingers absentmindedly while watching the movie, his other arm round Gray. She ignored Karen's curious gaze and instead focused on Owen's fingers in hair, and the rise of his chest under her head.
As the credits rolled, Karen stood from the bed, pulling on her shoes and requesting the boys did the same. There was some grumbling from them, lessened when Claire pulled away from Owen to wrap her arms around them, pressing a kiss to each of the boys' heads and promising to call the next day. Karen shifted uncomfortably as she looked at them.
"I would invite you to dinner, but…"
"But Scott doesn't like Owen?" Claire finished helpfully, ignoring the look of outrage on her sister's face and Owen's snort of laughter.
"When did you lose all your tact?" Karen scolded, making Claire feel like she was 10 years old again. "And it's not just that."
Claire raised her eyebrow quizzically but Karen seemed reluctant to supply the information, so she turned attention to her oldest nephew. He looked at her sheepishly. "Dad blames you for what happened to us on the island. He doesn't want us to see you anymore."
She felt the pain in her chest and didn't realise she was crying until she felt Owen wrap his arms tightly round her, turning her so her face was buried in his chest.
"We don't think that Aunt Claire." Gray piped up.
"You saved our lives. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Zach chimed as well, a frown on his face as he watched his aunt sob into Owen's chest.
She gripped on the front of Owen's robe, pressing her face further into the crook of his neck. She focused on his soft murmurs, repeating "It's not on you" over and over again, until the words blurred into one.
"I think you should go." She heard Owen's soft voice as he tightened his grip on her. "We'll call tomorrow. We'd like to see the boys but the ball is obviously in your court."
She heard the boys' protests, saying they had a say and they wanted to see her, both of them. Her sister's silence on the matter hurt more than she was willing to admit, her sobs increasing in volume as she heard the hotel room door open and close.
Owen pulled away from her slightly, holding onto her shoulders as he held her at arm's length, studying her tear stained face. "I'm going to run you a bath." He announced as he moved into the ensuite, turning on the taps and dumping the complimentary toiletries into the tub.
He waited for the tub to fill, before turning the taps off and returning to where he left Claire. She was still stood in the same spot, her sobs damping down into steady tears. He took her hand and pulled her into the bathroom, kissing her gently before turning to leave the room. She stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Don't leave me." She whispered.
"Hey, I'm not going anywhere. I'm sticking with you remember, you promised me a date. I'll just be in the next room."
"No." She said softly. "Don't leave me now."
He looked skeptical but nodded his assent, untying her robe gently, pushing it off her shoulders and to the ground. His eyes travelled up her figure, before kissing her cheek, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "You're beautiful."
She blushed softly and climbed into the bath with a soft sigh, closing her eyes as she tipped her head back against the edge. She opened one eye and looked at him. "You getting in?"
"Hell yeah." He blurted and she laughed softly, pleased at the break to the melancholy mood. She eyed his body appreciatively as he stripped his robe off and climbed into the tub behind her, the water level rising alarmingly high.
He placed his broad hands on her bare back, digging his fingers in to work out the knots that had formed. "Your sister doesn't blame you." He said softly, hesitantly even and she had never know Owen to be hesitant about anything. "It's just a hard time. Her sons went through something she couldn't possibly imagine. That no one could ever imagine. The only ones who can understand are those who were there."
She let out a humourless laugh. "It's like we've got our own club. The 'I survived man-eating dinosaurs' club. The one no one wants to be a part of."
"Maybe we should call Alan Grant. Ask if he wants a club meeting." He teased gently, the irony of the situation not lost on either of them. Dr Grant hadn't been quiet in his opposition of Jurassic World when the plans were announced. Turns out he had a good reason to.
She leant back against him, enjoying the feel of his wet, naked body against her back. She tipped her head back and kissed the underside of his jaw. "This is nice. It's a shame it took everything to get us here."
"We wouldn't have been able to do this in my bungalow. I didn't have a tub. Or much hot water." He mused.
"I don't think I would've coped very well." She admitted.
"If it came down to it, I would've moved. For you." He murmured into her shoulder and she snorted in disbelief. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"You loved that damn bungalow."
He hummed in agreement. "You're quite the catch though, Ms Dearing."
Her cheeks flushed the same colour as her hair. "What about now?"
"What about now?" He repeated as he ghosted his hand down her side, fingertips ghosting over the undersides of her breasts, causing her to shiver in spite of the warm water.
"You don't want to run off and live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere?" She seemed calm, but her teeth were pulling at her lip anxiously.
"Nah." He kissed her head. "I've had a bit too much nature recently. I'm going wherever you are. Like it or not."
"Good." She smiled slightly, content that that was enough she of a plan for now.
Claire was pulled from sleep abruptly by the sounds of moans beside her. She turned to see Owen, drenched in sweat and frowning, moaning gently. She looked at him in alarm when she worked out that his murmurs were her name.
She sat up and grasped the sides of his face lightly as his moans grew louder, turning into shouts.
"Owen, honey. Owen, wake up." He thrashed around slightly and she moved so she was straddling him, placing her body flush against his.
"Claire! No, no, Claire, don't die, don't leave me!"
She peppered kisses over his face, kissing away his tears, her own falling onto his face. She shook him slightly, pleading with him to wake up. Eventually his eyelids fluttered open and he gasped raggedly, blinking up at her face which was inches from him. His eyes flicked frantically around her face.
"You're okay, honey. I'm okay." She soothed him gently.
His shaking hands moved to cup her face. "You're alive."
The corner of her lips quirked up slightly. "I am. And I plan to stay that way."
His features calmed and he frowned at her. "Why are you crying, Claire? Did you have a nightmare as well?"
She shook her head as much as she could with his hands on her face. Her teeth were sunk into her lip, chewing it as she studied his expression. "You looked so frightened and upset. You were shouting my name."
He pulled her back down so she was lying fully on top of him, draped across his body like a blanket. He was too hot, drenched on sweat from his nightmare and their skin was sticking together uncomfortably and yet he only pulled her closer. She breathed in his scent, pressing her face against his sticky skin.
"I'm sorry." He murmured, but she only dug her fingers into his bicep: a warning. He tried a different tact, managing to twist his face into something resembling his usual cocky smirk. "Did you call me honey?"
She huffed slightly, her breath tickling his jaw. "Don't get used to it, Mr Grady." After a moment's silence she pressed her lips to his throat, his skin tasting of salt. "Do you think you can sleep again?" He shrugged noncommittally, jostling her entire body. She moved to roll off him but he tightened his grip on her and she settled against him.
She focused on his breathing for a while, her eyes closed, the heat of his body almost unbearable. "You know that you never have to apologise to me, Owen, not for this." She waited anxiously for response before realising that his breath had evened out and he'd drifted off again. She let out the breath she'd been holding, before blindly reaching her hand up to stroke his cheek. She curled herself against his chest, slipping back to sleep, lulled by the even rise and fall of his chest under her head.