New Beginnings - Chapter 8 - Like Husband, Like Wife

Previously...

"When do we start?" he asked dejectedly.

"Tomorrow," Wu said cooly, "Today we announce it to the world."

...

An absurd plan formed in her mind. She looked her son in the eyes, with a small smile.

"Nicolas, would you like to go see some dinosaurs?"

Parking her car in front of a familiar auto shop, Claire sat thinking for a while. Just the previous night, she had decided to venture to this new...park. At first, she wanted to bring Nicolas along, for she thought he enjoy the park. But, after thinking about what could go wrong, Claire instantly changed her mind. So, now here she was.

"Hey there, sleepyhead," Claire smiled softly as she unbuckled her son out of his car seat. He rubbed his eyes, then held out his arms for Claire to pick him up. With Nicolas in her arms, Claire shut the door, locked the car, and walked into the shop.

Hunched over a car engine was Barry. He turned around as he heard the clicking of heels on concrete.

"Claire!" he said excitedly, throwing his hands up. "And little Nicolas!" Claire smiled, and Nicolas held his arms out to Barry. Claire and Barry had grown close over the years, after working together to try to find Owen. Along with Karen, Barry helped out with Nicolas many times.

"Hi, Barry. How are you?" Claire asked while handing Nicolas to Barry.

"I'm good. And you?"

"I'm doing okay," she responded with a small smile.

"That is good to hear," Barry said, "So what brings you two here today?"

"Nothing really…," Claire said. She sighed. "Listen, I'm going to be gone a few days, and I need someone to take care of Nicolas. Karen is away on a business trip, and you're the only other person I trust with him."

"This is no problem," Barry accepted with a smile. "Where are you headed?"

"Oh, uhm...no where special," Claire said with a fake smile. Barry knew better.

"Claire…," Barry began as he gave a restless Nicolas back to Claire. She pursed her lips, and hugged her son closer.

"Have you seen the news recently?" she said lowly.

"No...what has happened?" Barry asked quietly. Claire took in a deep breath.

"There's a new park," she admitted.

"What, for dinosaurs?" Barry blurted. Claire nodded. Then, Barry's eyebrows furrowed. "And you're thinking of going."

"...Yes," Claire confessed. Barry opened his mouth to speak, but Claire stopped him, "I know, I know. It's crazy. But, I just have a feeling that I need to go…"

"Claire, I don't want to see a news story about how you got eaten because a dinosaur park failed yet again," Barry said while lightly putting his hand on her shoulder. "And I know that Owen wouldn't want you to go either." Claire went rigid at the mention of Owen.

"It...it wouldn't hurt to check it out?" Claire suggested. Barry looked off in the distance.

"Owen said that too, and he was almost eaten by lions," he muttered.

"What?" Claire inquired, unable to hear Barry's words. In response, he shook his head.

"Nevermind. Anyway, you're not going, Claire. I don't want to lose another friend," Barry said softly, looking Claire in the eye. She stared back for a few seconds, then nodded.

"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking," she said. Barry smiled.

"Alright, Claire. I'll come by in the morning to pick up Nicolas," Barry said. It would be Monday tomorrow, and Claire had to work, so Barry switched around his work schedule to help watch Nicolas.

"Okay. Thanks for everything, Barry. I don't know where I'd be without any of you," Claire smiled. Barry nodded, and Claire turned around to start walking to her car. "Sorry, Barry," she whispered when far enough away from the garage.

The next morning, when Barry arrived on Claire's doorstep, he received no response after knocking on the door a few times. With each passing second, his anxiety grew, and realization set in. He pulled out the key Claire had given him for emergencies, and unlocked the apartment door. He walked through the silent apartment until he reached the note sitting on the dining room table. He cursed as he read:

Hi Barry,

By the time you read this, Nicolas and I will be on a plane headed to the new park. I'm sorry, but I have to check it out. I'll be back before you know it, and then you can lecture me.

Love,

Claire.

A few hours later...

Standing on a balcony, Owen looked down at the lively crowd beneath. No one ever learns, Owen repeated to himself for the thousandth time. Then, his stomach rumbled loudly. God, I need a burger right now… He had been in and out of shows, "performing" with his dinosaurs, and thus was unable to eat all day.

He walked down the stairs that led out to the "main street" where a majority of visitors were. He weaved through the crowd, the sea of new arrivals who were getting off their ship, until he ended up on the edge of the street. He stood, scanning the buildings for a restaurant. Just like the visitors, Owen knew nothing about this new park.

Suddenly, he felt something bump into his leg. He looked down, expecting a toy animal or something from the gift shop, but instead saw a little toddler stumbling around. He picked the child up, making sure he wouldn't be trampled by the crowd. The boy smiled at him.

"Hey buddy, where's your mommy?" Owen said, studying the kid. Something about this kid seemed...off to Owen. The child's hair color matched his exactly, and his eyes were a light blue color. Just like...

"Nicolas!" a voice screamed. That voice…why does it seem so...familiar? Owen searched the crowd for the source of that voice, who he assumed belonged to the mother. Then, the kid began squirming in his grip. Then, the toddler threw his arms out to someone behind Owen.

"Mama!" the kid yelled. Owen turned around, ready to hand the child over. But he stopped. So did the mother.

And for the first time in many years, Claire Dearing and Owen Grady stared at each other in the middle of a dinosaur park.

a/n: ayyy they together again lol kinda short but hey perfect place to end hahahaahahahah

thanks for reading and see you next update!