Chapter One

1975

I sat in the bathroom, wondering what the hell I was doing with my life. Here I am, nineteen years old, about to get married to someone I've known since grade school. This wasn't your ordinary wedding, no. No, this was more of… Eloping because Mom and Dad on both sides don't approve. They liked the guy I was marrying, and his parents liked me. They just didn't like the idea that we were so young.

So, what did he say?

Maybe we should just elope.

And I was stupid enough to say yes.

I leaned on the sink, doing my best not to move—the nerves were beginning to hit me, and with that came the nausea. I splashed some water on my cheeks, careful not to hit my makeup. I looked up, my blonde hair falling in my face. My blue eyes shined with tears—why I was crying, I didn't know—and I quickly wiped them away. My dress was knee length, a light lavender color. My heels were only two inches high, a dull white.

I blinked hard, taking in a deep breath and immediately regretting it afterwards. It doesn't matter where it was, public bathrooms always smelled like shit.

On my left ring finger sat his class ring—and on his was a piece of twine, since my class ring didn't fit.

"Hey, Kerri. You okay in there?" there was a knock on the door. I jumped and looked at it.

"Yeah… Just… Just give me a second to collect myself, Ian." I fixed my dress and then looked at myself in the mirror once more, making sure nothing was messed up.

"I would, but, uh, I'm pretty sure this guy is going to jump down my throat if we wait any longer."

"Tell him to get over himself, I'm coming."

I heard Ian laugh on the other side of the door. I walked over to it, opening it. Ian's sunglasses covered his eyes, but they had to have been as bright as that smile that was on his face. Ian was a good-looking guy—at least I thought he was. I'd had a crush on him since eighth grade—it wasn't until sophomore year we started dating, and we were always off and on up until junior prom. He had dark hair that reached his shoulders, with dark brown eyes that sparkled when he smiled.

"You look beautiful."

I smiled. "You look… Good."

I watched as Ian's dark eyebrows furrowed together. "Good?"

"You'd look better without these." I took the sunglasses off his face. Ian rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.

"I like those sunglasses."

"I know you do, but we discussed this, and you said you weren't going to wear them until after. Sunglasses don't look right with a suit."

"Alright, alright, alright."

"Although, in different circumstances, they look great on you." I winked. Ian smiled softly and put his arm around me.

Present Day-1993

The alarm clock rang loudly, waking me up. I looked around before putting my arm across my face for a moment before getting up.

"Fuck me…" I sighed, going to my closet door and getting my red satin robe off the door handle and putting it on. I hated getting up early, but the life of a scientist didn't really allow you to sleep in.

I walked over to the window in the dark, knowing my house pretty well after several years. I yanked the curtains to the side and shut my eyes tightly. "Jesus…"

"Mom?" My daughter, Rhiannon, knocked on the door, leaning her head in a little.

"Yeah?"

"Dad's here."

"Ian?" I looked at her. Rhiannon nodded slowly, her dark bangs—obviously from her father—fell into her face.

"Yeah, that's the only Dad that Evan and I got."

"Ha." I walked past her, my pajama pants dragging the ground behind me.

"Shouldn't you get dressed?" Rhiannon asked.

"Honey, your father has seen me in less clothing than this. No, I don't think I should get dressed."

"Jesus, Mom…" she grimaced. I tapped her arm.

"Don't use the Lord's name in vain."

"You do it."

"I'm an exception."

Behind me, I heard Rhiannon groan (which I'm sure was accompanied by an eye roll).

"Whatever, Mom. I'm going to take a shower."

"You have fun with that. Where's your brother?"

"Sleeping. As per the usual." Rhiannon walked into the bathroom.

I walked into the kitchen, which was attached to the living room, and started to make a pot of coffee. That's when I saw the coffee already made and Ian at the kitchen table, drinking out of a purple coffee cup—which belonged to me—and reading the paper.

"Morning." I held back a yawn.

"Hey, Kerri. Nice robe."

I looked at him. "Is that my paper?"

"Like you actually read the articles?"

I walked over and sat at the table next to him. Ian definitely had grown out of his boyhood stage. His hair was shorter, and he looked older, but he still was Ian Malcolm.

"I want my cup back when you get done with it. Washing included."

"What, you don't want my cooties?" Ian smirked a bit.

"No, I just don't like hazelnut creamer. I'm not a weirdo like you."

Ian laughed quietly, finishing off his coffee and going to wash the cup out for me. I turned to look at him at the sink.

"What brings you here this early in the morning, Ian?" I asked as the shower started up in the other room, making the pipes creak. As I asked, Ian dried out the cup and poured me a cup.

"Three French vanilla creamers, like always?" He asked. I nodded. "I got a call from this guy." He answered my question. "He wants me to go check out this... I don't know, I guess it's a park."

"Did he say what the park was?"

"All I know is that it's got something to deal with science."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "So, what does that have to do with me?"

"That, my darling, has everything to do with you." Ian handed me my coffee, leaning on my dining table. "I want you to come with me." I blinked at him.

"What?" I stared at him.

"They need to make sure this park is safe. Apparently, some guy got killed on the job and now there's all this legal bullshit going on and experts are being called to check it out."

"Okay…"

"I want you to come with me." He repeated.

"Why?"

"Because. You're an expert scientist. You know exactly what you're talking about. I mean, shit, if you wanted, you could find the cure for cancer. I mean, I know that's not your field, but if you tried, you could. You're so smart. You really are. That's why."

"Thank you." I nodded. "But wouldn't it be awkward for you to be going somewhere with your ex-wife?" I teased him, leaning on my table.

Ian sat there for a second before shaking his head. "Nope."

"Alright." I ran a hand through my hair. "Where is this place?"

"Isla Nublar, about 120 miles off the west coast of Costa Rica. I looked it up."

I chuckled quietly. "When do we leave?"

"Get dressed."

I sat there for a moment, staring at him. "What?"

"We leave in, like, thirty minutes."

I shook my head, downing my coffee. "Thanks for the heads up." I scoffed and got up, going to my bedroom.

"Hey, I didn't really have much warning either. I just thought maybe you'd like to come." Ian followed me, leaning on the open door as I took off my robe.

"Thirty fucking minutes…" I muttered, digging around in my closet. "Thirty motherfucking minutes…"

"Just put on jeans and a t-shirt, it's not a big deal." Ian rolled his eyes. "It's not like we're going to church. Jesus…"

"I just wish you would've given me some more time to get ready. I got to get a shower and everything."

"Did you take one last night?"

"Ian don't be stupid."

"Then you're fine. C'mon, brush your teeth and let's go."

I sigh and grab a tank top and a pair of shorts, getting dressed. I started to take my top off and looked at Ian, who really wasn't paying attention anyway, but it was still awkward.

"Do you mind?" I looked at him. Ian snapped out of his thoughts, rolled his eyes and then turned around.

"Better?"

"Better." I took my top off, searching for a bra.

"You know, it's not like I haven't seen everything." Ian put his hands on his hips, waiting.

"Funny, Ian. Very funny."

"It's not. It's the truth."

I got my bra and top on, working on the shorts. I turned my back to the door and sighed quietly. As I was getting them on, a loud wolf whistle broke the silence, making me jump and scream a little. I turned back to him, getting them on and buttoning them.

"Dammit, Ian!"

"Like I said, seen it before." Ian was smirking, knowing he had pissed me off, and was enjoying every moment of it. So, really, in some ways he hadn't changed a bit. Fucking jokester. Then again, I did miss him. It wasn't really until now that I realized how much I missed him. Even if it was at this pervy moment. Ian kept smirking, and I felt a blush creep on my cheeks.

"Aren't you married right now?" I put my hands on my hips, hurrying into the bathroom to hide my face.

"Nope. No. This is, uh, what you would call an off-period for me." Ian leaned on the door frame.

"Why doesn't that surprise me…?" I muttered, brushing my teeth. After a minute, I heard Ian speak again.

"Kerri?"

"Huh?" I spit out some toothpaste.

"Did you dye your hair? It looks different."

"No," I answered before rinsing my mouth out. "I cut it though. I was getting tired of long hair. And I'm too old for it."

"You're not old, Kerri." I stared at him. Ian shrugged. "You saying you're old means I'm old. Remember, we're the same age."

"People age differently, you know." I said, walking out and grabbing my tennis shoes, putting them on.

"That doesn't mean you're old. If you're over 70, you're old. Not 37."

I rolled my eyes, sitting on my bed.

"Nikes. Nice." Ian changed the subject.

"Thanks. They should be, for what I paid for them." I tied my shoes as Ian chuckled, and walked over to the bathroom door. "Rhiannon! Hey!" I knocked on it. Rhiannon opened it a crack, her body covered in a towel. Her brown hair clung to her face and an overwhelming amount of steam and perfume hit us like a car. Ian blinked once because of it, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking around, glancing at old photos on the wall. "Your father and I are going out. We should be back later on tonight. Tell your brother we got leftovers in the fridge for breakfast."

"How late?" Rhiannon furrowed her eyebrows.

"I don't know. Ian?" I looked at him. Ian looked at us and shrugged.

"Pretty late. Maybe midnight."

Rhiannon started to smirk. "Are you two…?"

"No!"

"No way!"

Our answers were almost said at the same time, making the two of us look at each other.

"It's just a… Science thing." Ian said.

"Not a date." I clarified. "We're going to check out some kind of park."

"Alright." Rhiannon said, in a sing song voice. I put my hands on my hips.

"We'll be back later. No parties." Ian told her before walking me to the door.

"No promises." Rhiannon called to us as we left.

"Be safe, lock the door. Don't answer the phone unless it's me or your mother." Ian told her.

"Yeah."

And with that, we left the house.

[][][][]

I sat in Ian's car as we drove away from the house. I looked around before looking at him.

"New car?"

"Hm?" Ian looked at me before looking back at the road. "Oh, yeah. I got it about a year ago."

"I like it. It's nice." I nodded.

He smiled softly. "Well why do you think I got it?"

"Ha." I rolled my eyes. "Funny."

We sat in silence as he drove, his dark eyes focused on the road. I looked at him. "So, where are we going?" I raised my eyebrows. Ian looked at me once before looking back at the road.

"This pilot guy said to meet him at this place, we're going to this island and have to get there by helicopter."

"You mean like a helipad?" I looked at him. Ian cut his eyes at me.

"Shut up, I'm tired."

I laugh. "You and me both." I tapped my fingers on my knees for a moment before looking over at Ian again. "You know, next weekend is your weekend for the kids, right?"

"Yeah." Ian nodded.

"Have fun with Evan's mood swings." I looked out the window. "He's been horrible lately."

"Scale of one to ten."

"Fifteen."

I heard Ian wince quietly beside me. "Well, Kerri, Evan's 13, he's going to be going through that kind of stuff."

"I know. But, God, first his voice deepens, now this?" I shook my head, looking over at him. "He's grounded by the way."

"For what?"

"Sneaking out. Or trying to." I smirked. "But I caught his ass. Now he's grounded for two weeks."

"Well, do the crime, you gotta do the time."

I nodded, looking at him. "He's so much like you, Ian, it worries me. He's reckless, daring, typically doesn't care what anyone thinks about him. He's been in three fights this year."

"With who?"

I tried to hide my smile. "Nathan Windsor."

Ian began laughing. "That's my boy."

"Ian." I smacked him on the arm. "Don't you praise him. I know his father was a prick, but we don't know this kid."

"He's a Windsor, need I say more?" I shook my head, looking out the window. "Kerri?"

"Yeah?"

"You think Rhi can handle him?"

"Yeah, of course." I nodded. "She's eighteen now. She punched her ex-boyfriend in the face when she found out he cheated on her. Yeah, she can handle him."

"She's lucky I didn't get my hands on that little jerk." Ian started to get mad all over again. Rhiannon dated a young kid by the name of Johnny Palmer for a few months in high school, when she was just starting her senior year, but he cheated on her not too long after they got together. Rhiannon found out, punched him and was sent to the principal's office. Ian and I were called and were told the situation. When Rhiannon explained, it was all we could do to talk Ian out of fighting a 17-year-old for cheating on his daughter.

A few minutes later, Ian parked the car and the both of us got out. I stared at the helicopter, intimidated by its size. It was blue and white, and on one of the sides it had InGen written in big, bold letters. I took a deep breath and started towards it. The pilot got out, staying next to the door, and greeted us as we approached.

"Mr. Malcolm, ma'am. Please, get in. Mr. Gennaro is inside waiting for you."

"Gennaro? What kind of name is that?" I stared at Ian.

"I said the same thing." He snickered a little.

"He was the one that called you?"

"The same." He opened the door for me. "After you, Ms. Hensen."

I step up into the elevator, Ian after me. Mr. Gennaro, a small, twig of a man wearing a suit jacket, tie and shirt but khaki shorts. I raised an eyebrow at him. He looked surprised at my appearance.

"You are not Dr. Malcolm." he shook his head.

"No, I'm his ex-wife." I sat down, crossing my legs. "But I know him well enough to know what he's like. Business and personal." I smirked. Gennaro cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable.

"Really, Kerri. Don't go into too much detail. It could hurt his innocent mind." Ian sat next to me and, I'm guessing instinctively, put his arm around me. I bit my lip as the sleeve of his shirt touched the back of my neck. For some odd reason, my neck prickled, and I felt butterflies in my stomach-something I haven't felt in a long time. His cologne made its way around to where I could actually smell it, and it brought back so many memories for me. I was surprised for one of two reasons. One, that he still wore this. Two, that they still made this brand. I didn't care, I loved it.

"Kerri? Hello?" Ian waved his hand in front of my face.

"What?" I blinked and looked at him.

"Please, relieve this guy of his suspicions and tell him you're more than qualified to be here." I could tell he was getting annoyed. His sunglasses had slid down the bridge of his nose and he was now rubbing his eyes. I looked at Gennaro, a smirk on my face.

"Back off, man." I told him. "I'm a scientist."

Beside me, Ian started laughing. Gennaro eyed me uneasily.

"Don't quote at me, Ms. Hensen. I'm not an idiot."

Well you act like one. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I am a scientist, though. World renowned. Trust me, if Ian wanted me to come then it's a good idea."

"Thank you, Ms. Hensen. You just saved my ass." Ian smirked, sarcasm dripping from his voice. I elbowed him in the ribs, making him wince. "Ow."

I smirked back at him. "You're welcome, Mr. Malcolm."

"It's Dr. Malcolm, okay? I didn't get a PhD just to be called Mr. Malcolm." He teased me.

"Do you think John Hammond will be happy about this?" Gennaro snapped.

"I think he won't mind." Absentmindedly, Ian's hand rubbed my shoulder as he spoke. Jesus Christ, Ian, what's going on here? What are you trying to do me? You know we're in small confines, we can't talk about this in private. You ass. I thought to myself.

"And if he does mind, then he'll have to deal with it." I added, trying to hide my shaking in my voice.

"Damn straight."

[][][][][]

We were flying to Montana to pick up three more people, Hammond included. Gennaro had fallen asleep-much to my relief, because he just would not shut up about my being there, even though I tried to tell him I had met John Hammond several times and he would be more than happy to have me here-and had his head on his chest. I looked at Ian, who was looking out the window and the ground below us. His arm was still around me. I couldn't help but keep looking at him. The way the sunlight hit his face, I couldn't help but think about how handsome he was. He noticed me looking at him, and I turned away.

"Don't act all cool. I know you were staring." Ian smiled at me. I looked at him again.

"I was trying to look out the window, Ian Malcolm, if you must know."

"If you say so." His smile turned into a smirk. "But I know you're lying."

I scoff, trying not to blush. "You're delusional, Ian. Simply delusional."

"And you, Kerri, are a pathological liar. You know that, and I know that. So just talk to me about what's on your mind."

Even when we were kids, Ian always had a way of getting things out of me. When we were little, he'd hold my arm behind me, when we were teenagers and young adults, he'd kiss me. Hard. I nodded and sighed.

"Alright. Why did you want me to come with you?"

At this, he shrugged. "I just... Didn't want to come alone." He sighed quietly. "I have a bad feeling about this place, Kerri. Something just isn't right." he shook his head.