"Who is Justin?" His voice was low, almost a whisper.
"Was," I corrected.
His arms tightened around me.
I pulled at his shoulders until we were laying on the couch facing each other. Taking a few deep breaths, I looked into his eyes.
He was patient, studying my face.
"I met him on the plane ride. We were both interning on the island. He was…" I trailed off not sure how to explain my feelings for him.
Owen tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear and leaned in to kiss my forehead. "It's ok." He reassured me.
"We liked each other… a lot. He was my first… I loved him." I couldn't fully get the words out, but Owen understood.
"What happened?" He asked.
"There was an incident… we shouldn't have been where we were, but he was helping me with some research, and I needed to find Mr. Masrani to inform him of my findings. We should have been in the hotel with the rest of the interns, watching a movie. We saw smoke and went to see what it was. Two interns, siblings—twins, were sneaking around. They ended up opening the raptor paddock, releasing the raptor that was just brought over."
I felt Owen's breath hitch. He knew where the story was going.
"I hit the emergency button, locking us in with her. The twins were able to climb a tree and get over the wall. The raptor… she had me in her sights. I tried to run, but ended up tumbling down a hill. I thought I was alone. I thought I was going to die. Justin… he didn't leave me. He saved my life."
For the first time in years I let myself cry over Justin. Pressing my face into Owen's shirt I continued, "It would have killed me, but because I was closest to the shed, Justin distracted her so I could make it to the shed for weapons." I was sobbing into Owen "I couldn't find him. I tried! It was too late. I stayed with him until he took his last breath. He died in my arms and I couldn't save him."
"Damn, Claire, I had no idea." His arms loosened around me and I pressed myself into him.
"Don't," I begged. "please don't let go." I cried.
His arms tightened again. "I'm right here," he whispered into my hair.
I let myself cry for Justin for the last time. Owen now knew everything. The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders.
"Did I scare Maisie?" I asked, sitting up to wipe my tears. I twisted to look at Owen and leaned my side into him.
"A little, but she was angry." He snorted, and brought his hand up to rub my arm. "Kid has been hanging out with you too much. She's picked up your fiery temper. I think she wanted to go after Wyatt just as much as you did."
I looked down at Owen's hand on my arm and noticed the swelling. My eyebrows furrowed.
"You went after him." I grabbed his hand to inspect his swollen knuckles.
He shrugged.
"Owen!"
"I warned him once. This time he crossed a line. Now that I know the whole story I would have done more than break his nose. Ass had it coming to him."
I leaned over him so our faces were inches apart. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me."
He reached up to cup my face in his hands. "I will protect you no matter what and I don't care if you like it or not."
I buried my face in my hands. "Why would you want to marry me? I'm a disaster!"
His hands still on my face, he gave a slight shake to get me to look at him. "My beautiful disaster." He smiled up at me.
I leaned down, crushing my lips to his. Many times I have wondered if Justin and I would have made it as a couple. But being in this moment I couldn't picture myself with anyone besides Owen. I loved Justin, he taught me how to fall in love. Owen was my everything. His lips on mine, his hands holding me close to him. I need Owen like I need air to breathe. Finally sharing my past with him, I could feel my heart mending. I could finally let go of Justin. Though a part of me will always love him, Owen is the one I've always been searching for. No matter if Justin was still alive or not, the man holding me against him is the one I was born to be with.
"I love you," I mumbled against his lips and moved so I could lay comfortably on top of him.
"I love you too, babe."
I slid my hand up his shirt and traced his ribs with my fingertips.
His hand slowly slid under my shirt, his fingers followed my spine until he reached the clasp to my bra.
"Claire?" Maisie's tired voice fluttered down the hall.
I jumped off of Owen and he laughed as I stumbled to try and catch myself before falling.
"I'm coming, Maisie," I hurried towards her room.
She was sitting up on her bed, her favorite stuffed animal tucked under her arm.
"What's wrong?" I asked, moving to sit on the edge of her bed.
"I don't like Wyatt."
"He's not coming back. You don't have to worry about it." I reassured her.
She nodded. "Owen said that, too."
"I'm sorry I got so upset in front of you like that."
She shrugged. "It's ok."
"No," I shook my head, "It's not, Maisie. I scared you."
She crawled onto my lap and wrapped her arm around me. "Wyatt made you upset, it wasn't your fault."
I kissed her temple and held her tight. "You're a smart kid."
She yawned and I motioned for her to get back under the covers.
The door buzzed and I heard Owen talking to Franklin before letting him into the building.
"Get some sleep. I promise, I'm fine."
She yawned again, her eyes drooping. "Goodnight, Claire."
"Goodnight, Maisie." I whispered and closed her door enough to let a thin line of light from the hall shine in.
Owen was just opening the door for Franklin as I walked into the living room.
"What a day, huh?" Franklin asked, his eyes watching me cautiously.
"Everything is fine, Franklin." I grumbled. I was going to have to explain myself to half of the DPG volunteers.
Owen squeezed my hand reassuringly and kissed my cheek. "Let's have a baby, though it would be more fun to just do it the old fashioned way." he winked and led me into the living room.
My stomach did flips.
Franklin sat in the middle of the couch, spreading himself out with his laptop.
Owen sat on the chair across from Franklin and pulled me down on his lap.
"You sure this is going to work?" Franklin asked.
"If we can keep her away from InGen then I'm prepared to try anything. I don't want to even begin to think of what Eli wanted to do with her." I answered.
Owen brought his hand up and rubbed my back. "We'll keep her safe."
It took us a few hours to make sure we had a birth certificate that worked. I caught Owen smile when he read over the names on the paper.
"Maisie Grady." His smile grew when he spoke her new name out loud.
We did all we could to make her ours. To let her live among others and go to school like a normal kid.
Now to break the news to my sister. Last she heard Owen and I weren't together anymore. Here I was, getting ready to show up on her doorstep, engaged to Owen and having a nine-year-old kid in tow.