Karen once again tells me that I should have kids. Last time she told me this, I completely shrugged her off, but this time I find myself actually entertaining the idea. With the right person…I look up at Owen and find that he's already watching me with a knowing smile. I feel my face get even hotter as he winks at me. Ugh, why does he have this affect on me? Karen pulls back from the hug, oblivious to what was going on.

"Bye," she calls over her shoulder as she walks to meet her awaiting husband, her arms around her two sons.

"What's this I hear about kids?" Owen asks as he struts toward me. He kind of reminds me of a rooster just then…Owen the rooster. I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"Oh, nothing," I say as I wave it off. He raises an eyebrow and is about to open his mouth to retort when I cut him off.

"The hotels are this way," I call back to him as I start walking. He looks like he still wants to say something, but I race ahead, not giving him the chance, giggling as he playfully scowls at me. He catches up to me in about two steps and picks me up, swinging me in a circle.

"Slow down, woman," He says with a smirk, his eyes twinkling. I can't catch my breath between my giggles, but they die in my throat when I see the anguish in his eyes. He sets me down again, facing him. I place my hands on either side of his face, tracing his cheeks wonderingly. He opens his mouth again, but he doesn't look like he wants to tease me anymore. He looks like he's about to say something big, and I feel my heart speed up.

"We're alone now," I whisper. "You can tell me anything."

"Claire, I-," his voice breaks. He takes a deep breath and tries again. "Claire, I care for you. More than I'd care to admit." Seeing my expression, he quickly adds, "And I don't want to scare you away, but I felt like I had better tell you before someone else gets to you, or if you get eaten by a dinosaur, whichever happens first."

He surprises a laugh out of me; he wasn't the best at making speeches like this. But it was so endearing and just so Owen. He watches me suspiciously, like he was puzzled at my reaction. He hides it well, but I see a little bit of hurt in his eyes as well. I feel a stab of guilt; he was probably thinking I was laughing at his admission of his feelings for me.

"Owen," I say and wrap my arms around him. "I care for you too, you big lug. No need to pull out those puppy-eyes."

"But I do puppy-eyes the best," he says indignantly, which sets me into another fit of laughter. "Are you okay?" he asks warily. "Have you caught something?"

"It's you. You're just so-,"

"So what?"

"So you."

"Well, I certainly hope I'd be me, otherwise-,"

"That's not what I meant. Oh, forget it."

He laughs, a deep laugh that sends shivers through me.

My eyes widen. "You were playing me!"

He laughs again, catching my hand as I reach to slap at him.

"No need to get nasty, now," he says calmly.

"You-"

"ah, ah, ah. It isn't befitting of a lady to use those words."

I reach to smack him again, but he catches that hand too, leaving him holding both of my hands. He tugs me toward him. Whatever retort I had died in my throat as soon as he wraps his arms around me. Though he puts up a calm exterior, I can feel his heart racing. I snuggle closer to his chest, feeling the safest I have for days.

"Claire."

I look up and see that anguish in his eyes again.

"I need you," he says at last. I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his lips down to mine in response. Our last-and first-kiss was all fear and swiftness. This kiss was long and sweet. I lavished in it, all thoughts flying from my mind. Finally, he pulls back, a look of wonderment in his eyes. I smile, pleased with myself that I had that affect on him.

"C'mon," I tell him as I reach out my hand. "We don't have all day," I can't help adding, squealing as he grabs at me.

We reach the hotel a short time later; it was spooky seeing it so empty and abandoned. Owen puts a hand on my back, making me jump.

"Um, the rooms are just down the hall. All of them have bathrooms and there should be some clothes around here somewhere…" I break off, struggling to gather my thoughts. Yesterday's events come flooding back, but I furiously push them away again.

"Hey," Owen says, wrapping me in his arms. I hadn't realized that I had been shaking until he pulled me against him. "We're going to be okay." I nod, trying to make myself believe it.

"As long as we stick together, right?" I give him a watery grin.

He smiles back. "Not just for survival, though."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Owen laughs evilly, thoroughly taking my mind off of yesterday. If there was one thing Owen Grady could do, it was taking your mind off of everything but him.

I eventually find an old cardboard box full of clothes in one of the storage cabinets. Unfortunately, it was too high up for me to reach. I would have been able to get it if I had my high heels, I think ruefully. Owen was scavenging the kitchen for food, so I decided to get the thing down myself. I jump up, landing painfully on my feet. Nope, not gonna happen. I was about to swallow my pride and call for Owen when I spotted something. Aha! A broomstick. I'm pretty proud of my problem solving; I was successful in scooting the box over the edge of the shelf. The problem arose when it came crashing down. I didn't have time to drop the broom and catch it, so it landed on my head. Thankfully, the open side-full of clothes- hit me, but that meant that I now had a box over my head. I could see clothes raining down around me through the cutout handle. At least Owen wasn't around to see this. I jump when I hear someone clapping and pull the box over my head, dreading what I was going to see. And there he was, applauding, with a smug grin on his face.

"Did you find the clothes, Ms. Dearing?"

I glare at him and throw a shirt at him. Much to my annoyance, he manages to gracefully catch it, with that big smirk still on his face. I try to stay mad at him, but when I think about it, I realize it actually was kind of funny. I find myself laughing with him as we walk down the hall towards the rooms.

Owen and I both found an empty room, which, as I predicted, wasn't hard. As soon as my door was locked, I strip myself of my clothes, trying to strip myself of the memories as well. But, I think as I step into the hot shower, I don't want to lose all of those memories. It was a tragedy, for sure, and there were countless lives lost that I could never replace. But some good also came out of it. Owen and I were brought together through it, and I wouldn't trade that for the world. Yesterday, I remembered thinking, "How could God allow this to happen- is there even a God? If He's such a good God, then how could he allow such a disaster to happen, so many lives to be lost." I realize now that he is a good God; he just doesn't always stop something bad from happening. However, he will use the bad and turn it into something good. He brought Owen and I together. Karen and her husband decided to save their marriage after almost losing their boys. And people will have learned to not underestimate dinosaurs, even the genetically engineered ones. I recall a Bible verse then that I learned in Sunday school as a child. It seemed so trivial at the time, but now I see the true meaning in it. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." I'm pretty sure the verse was found in Jeremiah. I had memorized it to get a piece of candy, but, with the memory that I have, I've kept it through all the years. I suddenly feel so at peace, like I can actually get through this. I take the bar of soap off of the shelf and start scrubbing the dirt and dinosaur poo off of me.

I had only just finished pulling my clothes on- some exercise shorts and a tank top- when I heard a knock on my door. I look at my reflection in the mirror- no make-up. I shrug and answer the door, twisting the water out of my hair. A freshly-showered Owen was standing in the hall, looking slightly uncomfortable. He raises his eyebrows as he takes in my appearance; apparently liking what he sees, he gives me a toothy grin. He smells like after-shave and something else…I shake my head and step aside, letting him in.

"I like your new look," he says as he steps inside. "No make-up, no white suits…"

"I guess it fits my new personality."

"Guess so," he says, leaning his forehead on mine. Water from his hair drips onto my face and I lift my head up, gazing into his eyes. He leans down as I close my eyes- and then he pulls away from me, smirking.

"Oh, you are so going to pay for that," I say as he runs out into the hall, laughing.

A/N: I worked hard on this chapter and am pretty proud of it. Please let me know what you think!