I know most of you want this vacation to be over with quick so we get back to Jurassic World, but have no fear because it will probably only be two or three chapters at the most. Then we'll get down to the action again! So enjoy grumpy Owen dealing with in-laws. Cause that sounds like a fun situation ;)


Chapter 12

When the wheels of their plane touched down in New York, New York, Sasha was gripping Owen's arm tightly. They were flying coach- her Mom offered to pay for tickets if they came, but this was a surprise trip for her - and it was very uncomfortable. Owen's long legs had cramped, and the kid behind him was so obnoxious it was ridiculous. To add to the situation, the woman on the other side of Sasha wouldn't shut up. She had started with casual conversation, but when she found out that the couple worked for Jurassic World she immediately started asking more questions.

So when they could exit, Sasha and Owen were practically running off the plane.

It was late December, but they also weren't prepared for the shock of cold that met them when they exited the terminal and flagged down a cab. Sasha rubbed her arms and blew on her hands, leaning against Owen, who was also in just jeans and a t-shirt. They had packed clothes for the cold, but it was all in their suitcases. A cab came to the sidewalk and Owen held the door for her, and loaded their suitcases into the trunk.

"Where to?" The driver asked, glancing in the rearview. Sasha quickly rattled off her mother's address, and put her hands in front of the heater, grabbing at the handle on the ceiling when the cabbie pulled the car into traffic, and headed for the city.

Sasha tugged at the hem of her shorts, and looked at Owen. "Ready for the big city?"

He had never lived in a big city before, and it was all completely new to him. But Sasha had lived in New York for fifteen years, so she knew her way around. "Eh. I like the country just fine."

"It's definitely better than the city." Sasha agreed.

The cab came to a sudden halt in front of her Mom's house fifteen minutes later, and Sasha jumped out while Owen paid the driver. Stepping out into the cold air, Owen shivered slightly and grabbed his suitcase from the back. He lifted Sasha's out and slung her makeup bag around the handles, letting her wheel it to the steps. Sasha's family wasn't exactly poor, so the house was a fancy-looking two story building with high ceilings and a gaudy interior. The lights were on inside, and Sasha dragged her heavy bag up the steps, Owen nudging it with his foot to keep it moving. Once they were both on the porch, Sasha rung the doorbell, shivering as a cold wind blew by.

The door swung open, revealing a face Sasha hadn't seen in a long time; her sixteen year-old, soon to be step-sister Jessica. She was Bobby's oldest daughter, and had twin thirteen-year old sisters. The younger girl's mouth dropped open, and she squealed. "Sasha!"

Sasha smiled and hugged the brunette, laughing as the tall girl lifted her up slightly. She quickly ushered them into the warm house, shutting out the cold air. "Long time no see, Jess."

"What's all the fuss out here, Je- Oh my Gosh!" Sasha recognized her Mom's voice echo from the kitchen, and then grow nearer. Sasha smiled, and opened her arms.

"Hi Mom."

The older woman covered her mouth. "You came! Ugh, thank you!" She pulled her daughter into a hug and kissed her cheek, and then looked up at Owen, giving him a brief hug. "Haven't seen you in a while, big boy! Where have ya been?" She joked. Her mother, Sandy, was always a joking woman, and spoke with a New York accent.

"You know, hanging out on a tropical island with a bunch of dinosaurs." Owen replied, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly and looking down at Sasha. The hint of sarcasm didn't go unnoticed, and Sasha's mother smiled.

Sandy motioned at the stairs. "Well, you can tell me all about that once you're settled in. Sash, the guest room is open, but there's no sheets on. You know what, I'll have Trent do it. He can even take your bags-"

"Trent's here?!" Sasha asked excitedly. Trent was Sasha's biological brother. He was twenty-eight, and worked in Kansas as the president of some oil drilling company. Him and Owen got along very well, which was good because it gave Owen someone to talk to besides Bobby.

"Yes he is. Now, come on in the kitchen. I was just making dinner, and there's plenty for both of you." Sandy herded them into the kitchen. At the counter was more people than Sasha had expected. Jessica, her twin sisters Katie and Louise, Bobby, Trent, and Sasha's Uncle Matt. Owen and Sasha greeted everyone, but had to make introductions with her Uncle Matt, whom Owen hadn't met before.

"Owen, this is my Uncle Matt. Uncle Matt, this is my husband Owen." Sasha introduced. Matt was a respectable looking guy, with cropped gray hair and a stubbly beard, probably in his mid to late fifties. He stood around Owen's height, and held himself proud and tall.

"Nice to meet you, Sir." Owen held out his hand and the man shook it.

"You too." Looking him over, Matt commented, "You a military man?"

Owen straightened a little as Sasha left them to talk, helping her Mom with the pasta she was making. "Yes sir."

Matt nodded. "I could tell. How long?"

"I served in the Navy as a Chief Officer for six years." Owen replied.

"Good man. I've been in the Air Force since I got out of high school. I've learned to pick out the veterans." Matt told Owen.

The younger man nodded . "What rank?"

"Master Sergeant. I'm doing more of planning, training and helping than piloting now though." Matt chuckled. "Guess I'm getting old."

Owen smiled. He liked Matt, which gave him another normal guy to talk to during his vacation. Sasha walked back over, placing a hand on Owen's back. "Getting along over here?"

Matt looked to his niece. "Just fine. You know, I think this boy might have my stamp of approval, Sashie. I respect a good military man. Wouldn't expect anything less for my favorite niece."

Sasha smiled, and leaned against Owen slightly. "Thanks Uncle Matt. He got my stamp of approval too." She joked.

Owen smiled at Sasha, and Matt laughed. "That's a hard thing to do. I remember Sasha comin' home from school one day to my house, and sayin' how this boy asked if she liked him-"

"Hey, looks like the food's done!" Sasha interrupted.

"No, I wanna hear this story." Owen grinned, catching Sasha around the waist.

"How about later? I'm hungry." She said, tugging Owen to the island where the food was. Matt laughed at Sasha, and followed the crowd to the counter. Once they were all settled at the dining table, the questions started flowing to Owen and Sasha. Bobby was the one to start it, which was a rarity in itself.

"So how is that Jurassic World place going?" He asked, looking between Owen and Sasha.

"Good. It feels like there's more people every day." Sasha answered, sprinkling salt over her mashed potatoes.

"What do you do?" Louise asked, looking at Owen, who had just shoveled a fork full of chicken into his mouth. He swallowed quickly, and looked to the teenager across the table from him.

"I research the Velociraptors' social behavior and train them." Owen answered. Everyone paused, looking over towards Owen.

"Dude, that's sweet." Trent remarked around a mouthful of pasta.

"You train dinosaurs?" Sandy questioned. Owen looked at the woman and nodded.

"Yes. It's the first time someone's attempted to do it, but they've been pretty cooperative so far." He said, taking a sip of the wine that Bobby had brought. It tasted bitter, but Owen forced it down so he didn't appear rude.

The fun was already starting.

/JURASSIC WORLD\\

Laying in the guest bed later, Sasha and Owen were both beyond exhausted. Between the flight and dinner, it was enough to make anyone want to crawl under a rock forever. Both were relishing in the comfort of the soft, memory-foam bed, which was much less worn than their mattress on Isla Nublar.

"When we get back, we are ordering a new mattress." Sasha mumbled as she curled into the silk sheets. Owen laughed.

"Agreed."

Sasha rolled over so she was facing Owen. He cracked an eye open at her, green irises lit from the soft light shining in from the window. "Hi." She whispered.

"Hi." Owen replied, tucking a piece of red hair behind Sasha's ear. She closed her eyes contently, and made a mental note to sleep in because she never got to on Isla Nublar.

"I am officially never leaving this bed- it's too comfy." Sasha stated, laying her head on Owen's chest.

"Maybe we'll just put you on it, set it in the ocean and give it a push towards Costa Rica and you can sail home." He said sarcastically, playing with the ends of her hair.

"As long as I get to keep the mattress." Sasha murmured. "And hey, tomorrow we have to go get you fitted for a tux."

Owen groaned. "Fine."

This vacation was going to be the death of him.