Claire couldn't have asked for a better day to get married. The sky had very few clouds, and none of them were threatening to rain. They billowed and curled over the mountains like cotton, casting the occasional shadow on the yellow fields and green forests. Near the cabin, a colorful cast of characters was setting up the ceremony area. Two raptors erected an archway of white flowers, and various theropods unfolded chairs on the lawn. Claire oversaw all of the preparations, making sure that everything was perfect.
"CLAIRE!"
She was tackled to the ground by a very enthusiastic mozaradon. She gave Claire a massive hug and smiled.
"I've missed you so much! I was so excited to hear- GAWHAWHAWHAWHAW!"
She burst into a fit of not-quite-laughter. Claire smiled timidly.
"Thank you, Zara."
She put her down.
"Where's Owen?"
"Inside. Barry isn't letting him see me, because he's incredibly superstitious."
Zara put her wing-hands on her cheeks and squealed happily.
"You two are so cute together! This is going to be wonderful! Makes me wish I could get married . . ."
Before she could create an awkward pause, Claire gave a pleasant smile.
"What have you been up to, recently?"
"I was a cowgirl last week!" Zara trilled, "I went by Jellybean Bonanza, because Bonanza Jellybean was already taken."
Claire raised her eyebrow.
"Last week? What about now?"
Zara giggled.
"That's even better news! The Isla Nublar Theatre is doing Wicked, and I got a part . . ."
She leaned in, obviously giving Claire an implicit signal to ask her more.
"What part did-"
"ELPHABA! I got the lead!" she screamed, "I didn't expect to get a role at all, because I'm so huge, but now I'm living my secret dream! I knew I was destined to play the lead ever since I saw it on stage. I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't introduced me to Trixie, I would have never had the chance to go."
"Trixie? Trixie who?" Claire asked.
"Trixie the scientist. Don't you remember? She had an extra ticket . . ."
"Oh, right. I remember now," Claire lied, "I'm glad you're ha-"
She grunted as Zara squeezed her again.
"Things are finally turning around for me, Claire. The people on Nublar are so nice! I used to think that it was foolish to dream, because every time you think you've got it made, something swoops down from the sky and destroys your life as you know it, forcing you to . . . Where was I going with this?"
"Dreams?"
"Right! Now I can finally pursue my dreams, and it's so-"
She danced around, flapping her wings merrily and letting loose an excited giggle. Claire gave an awkward smile.
"That's great, Zara. I'm glad you've found a place where you belong."
"I'm glad for you too, Claire."
A third voice joined them.
"Yeah, it's about time you settled down."
They turned and saw Vivian lumbering towards them.
"Sorry I'm late. I had to be shipped here with a crate of livestock, and Brad had trouble convincing customs that I was just a very ugly horse."
Zara gave her a hug.
"How are you?"
"Great. Things have been going pretty well for me . . . except for the fact that my grandpa tried to shoot me when I broke my leg . . . that was pretty awkward."
Claire gave an uncomfortable laugh.
"Sounds like it. Speaking of awkward, Lowery is coming . . ."
"I'm not too worried about that," Vivian said, "The guys will keep him busy."
Claire shrugged.
"I dunno. He's still not over you."
Vivian snorted.
"You could find him a new woman. The world isn't short on bug-eyed blondes, you know."
Zara laughed.
"Yeah. I'm sure he'll get over her soon enough."
***TSJWFEW***
"I hate my life, I hate weddings, and I'm pretty sure I'd be better off dead."
Owen patted Lowery's back as he sat with his head on the table.
"Vivian is my soulmate, and she's dating some guy named Brad. He's probably good-looking. No one named 'Brad' is ever ugly. How am I supposed to compete with that?"
Barry punched his shoulder.
"Cheer up. You'll find somebody."
"There's nobody like Vivian."
"Then you'll just have to find someone better," Owen asserted.
There was a knock at the door. Owen jogged over to open it, and found Karen struggling to keep Gray from running amuck. She looked up at Owen with bloodshot eyes.
"Scott gave him coffee before sending him over. Plane ride was hell. Should have worn off by now. Help."
Owen caught Gray as he went darting through the door. Karen stumbled over to the sofa and collapsed.
"His father knows that he's not allowed to have coffee. He did this to sabotage my weekend."
"Don't talk about Dad that way," Zach muttered as he stepped through the door.
Owen gulped and lifted the papers out of Karen's hands.
"Do you want me to put these in the study?"
Karen nodded.
"If I have time, I'll go through them. I don't know if I can mange . . ."
Owen smiled.
"If you're anything like Claire, it will be a breeze. Speaking of which, she's waiting for you outside."
***TSJWFEW***
Karen stormed past the caterers with disheveled hair and a sour pout on her face. She bumped into a raptor and screamed.
"AH! Oh, shit. Right. You're one of the- well- carry on."
She pushed him aside, leaving him utterly confused. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she searched the ceremony area for her sister. She found her speaking with one of the yellow dragons. Karen knew that they had names, but she didn't really care. Why bother getting to know supernatural beings when there were divorce settlements to resolve?
"Claire."
Claire turned around, a huge smile plastered across her face.
"Karen!"
She grunted as she was scooped up by a pair of pudgy, green arms. Claire rubbed her cheek against her head.
"I've missed you. You haven't visited recently . . ."
"I was busy."
Claire squeezed her tightly.
"You should see my dress. I don't know how they did it, but they found a design that doesn't make me look fat."
Karen nodded vacantly.
"Yeah. Sure. Is the office free?"
Claire pouted.
"You're not going to shut yourself in today, are you?"
Karen exhaled sharply.
"I don't see why it matters to you."
Claire frowned.
"Well, it's my wedding for one thing. More importantly, you're my sister, and I want to look out for you."
Karen snorted.
"I don't need your help."
Claire put her front foot on Karen's shoulder.
"Everyone needs help sometimes."
Karen shook her off.
"Look, don't worry about it, okay? Just have fun with your wedding while I sort out my divorce."
Claire tilted her head.
"Karen . . . Maybe try to forget your divorce, just for one day."
Karen gave a bitter laugh.
"The world doesn't stop turning for a wedding. I can't forget for no good reason."
Claire scowled.
"Your sister's wedding isn't a good enough reason?"
Karen crossed her arms.
"Don't try to use your guilt-powers on me. I have a lot of shit to deal with."
"So do I."
Karen scoffed.
"Claire, you live on a luxurious ranch in the beautiful countryside. Your biggest problem is the wild badgers."
Claire stared at her for a moment, then frowned deeply.
"You don't know what I've been through, Karen."
She rolled her eyes.
"Right. You're a dinosaur. So what? Some of us have real problems."
Claire shook her head.
"I realize you're upset, but don't start this today."
"Why? Because you're so stressed out about your free wedding?"
Claire's beak quivered.
"Karen, I've dissolved every last ounce of stress over the past few weeks getting this thing ready. This is the one day in my adult life when I can allow myself to feel like I'm completely in control. Even if I'm not, it doesn't matter. I'm happy."
"Well, I'm glad, but I have to deal with reality. It's not all hearts and doves."
"I'm perfectly aware of what reality is like."
Karen hummed.
"You're a dinosaur. You get a cushy little life-"
Claire snorted angrily.
"Now, hang on. Being a dinosaur is hard. Very hard."
Karen rolled her eyes.
"Your biggest problem is making sure you don't eat too much. How hard can it be?"
Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over Karen. She held her head and swayed unsteadily.
"Are you okay?" Claire asked. Karen nodded quickly.
"I'm fine. I just . . . I have to go."
She stumbled away, leaving Claire to speak with the dragon (who had been listening to their conversation). When she reached the house, she tried to operate the door handle, but her fingers felt swollen. Giving up, she pushed the door open by force and trotted up the staircase. She made her way to the guest room, flopping down lazily on the bed. The door closed behind her, probably because of the wind.
Karen moaned and rolled over. She put her hands on her stomach, discovering that it was farther than usual. Craning her neck, she noticed several peculiar things, not the least of which was a tail that seemed to be growing out of her posterior. Her dress was wrapping around her legs and sinking into her skin, giving way to light blue scales. Karen shrieked and tried to turn around, only to skewer a pillow with one of the horns that was growing out of her forehead. She reared up on her hind legs in panic. The pillow tore, sending feathers flying everywhere. She tried to brush them off of her face, but a third horn sprung up from her nose and poked her.
"Ouch!"
As she spoke, she was surprised to find a beak clicking where her mouth should have been. Lifting her hands up to feel her face, she saw that she didn't have hands at all, but rather, large rhino-feet. She yelped and stumbled backwards. Her back was getting a lot heavier, and it felt like it was splitting in places. When she looked over her shoulder (which she could barely do), Karen saw large flat-things running down her spine. She gasped in surprise as her hair curled up into a thick structure. When her skin was done rippling, Karen sensed that whatever had happened to her was no longer in progress. She stepped down from the bed, taking a sheet with her by accident. It slipped off of her shoulders as she made her way to the bathroom, crawling on all fours. With a kind of lethargic drowsiness, she placed her front feet on the counter and lifted herself onto two legs.
When she looked in the mirror, she saw a stegoceratops staring back at her.
***TSJWFEW***
Vivian stepped through the doorway timidly. She shuffled her feet a bit before coming inside.
"Are you sure Claire is okay with this? My grandpa put tiny horseshoes on my toes to keep me from damaging my feet. I don't want to make dents in your floor."
Owen waved his hand.
"Naw, it's fine. The dragons made sure that our floor is immune to dinosaur feet."
Vivian bit her lip.
"Is Lowery in there?"
Owen shook his head.
"He's with Barry outside."
"You two are close, huh?"
"Who? Me and Lowery?"
"No, Barry."
Owen smiled.
"Yeah. We were friends in the navy."
Vivian cocked her head.
"You met him in the navy?"
Owen nodded.
"Mhm. There was a group of men who were always shouting racial slurs . . ."
"And you defended him, forging a lifelong friendship?"
Owen hummed.
"Not exactly. Let's just say I used to hang out with a bad crowd and leave it at that."
As they walked by the office, Owen gave a puzzled frown.
"That's odd. I thought Karen would be in there for sure."
Vivian shrugged.
"She's probably forgotten all about her problems. I'll bet she's waiting with the others outside."
***TSJWFEW***
Karen screamed in frustration and banged her head against the door. Her horns stopped her before she could go all the way, and the impact made her shudder. She stomped her foot in determination and snorted.
"There's no way I'm letting myself get stuck in an unlocked room on my sister's wedding day."
She pushed against the door, but for some reason, it seemed to be adjusted so that it could only swing inwards. Well, that only meant she'd have to pull it. How hard could it be?
Karen sat on her haunches and brushed herself off. With a deep breath, she reached out and tried to grab the doorknob. She really thought she had a grasp on it, but the base of her foot was still completely flat. She pushed harder, hoping that the friction of her hand turning was enough to open the door. It wasn't. Karen tried bashing it, jimmying it, pushing it, and biting it, but nothing seemed to work. Spitting out the taste of metal, Karen fell back on her rump and stared at the door, placing her front foot under her chin. The knob was her canvas, and she the painter. Once she knew what her plan of action was, she could work on her masterpiece . . . which in this case was opening a door.
Karen was snapped out of her reverie when she heard footsteps outside. She charged over to the window and cranked it open with her mouth. Zach was meandering across the lawn with a pair of headphones draped over his head.
"Zach!"
He didn't acknowledge her.
"ZACH!"
Not so much as a blink. Karen snorted in frustration.
"Zachary Arnost Mitchell, you take those headphones off RIGHT NOW!"
He didn't slow down. Karen mooed furiously.
"You're going to ruin your hearing!"
Zach disappeared around the side of the house. Karen growled.
"Alright. No more games."
She scuttled across the room and grabbed the doorknob in her mouth. Using her tongue for leverage, she twisted with all of her might. The handle slipped, and she tried again.
"Erm nert gerng ter mers mer serster's werderng!" she drooled.
Fed up with the lack of payoff, she gave a mighty tug. To her horror, she fell backwards with the knob in her mouth.
"No!"
She tried to place the knob back in the splintered hole, but it slipped and rolled across the carpet. As Karen looked down, the sound of a small wedding band rang through the mountains.
"No! They can't start without me!"
Karen mooed in distress and made her way over to the closet. She lowered her head and rooted through a pile of old clothing, hoping to find something that could help her escape. When she moved a loose sock, she noticed a red button that said "DO NOT PUSH". She pushed it. There was a bright flash of light, and suddenly, she found herself in a small room. When she turned around, her tail knocked over a chair, which happened to be holding a person. Karen looked down at her and gasped.
"Claire! How did you change back?"
She didn't reply. Karen sat down and crossed her arms.
"I suppose you're trying to find a new wedding dress, now that you're skinny again."
She blinked.
"Oh, don't give me that deer-in-the-headlights look! Did you do this on purpose?"
She blinked again.
"I knew it! You had us trade places! Well, you've proven your point. It's hard being a dinosaur. There. Are you happy?"
She didn't move. Karen snorted.
"I know you must think I'm a real bitch, being all sour at your wedding, but you know what? It's not easy being me, either. I have to live life knowing that the one person I loved turned out to be a total jerk, and now I'm all alone . . ."
Karen started sniffling.
"I'm all alone, and now you're not going to be there for me, because you have a life of your own. I thought we were supposed to be sisters . . ."
Tears began pouring down her face.
"I guess I'm just wondering why you could find someone who loves you as a big, fat dinosaur, but nobody seems to like me, even when I'm trying hard to be beautiful."
She wiped her eyes.
"I'm happy for you. Really, I am. I just feel that it's a little unfair . . . I guess that's not the point, though. This is your day, not mine. I'm sorry for trying to take that away from you. I love you, Claire."
Karen gave her a hug. Her sister reacted by tensing up, which was a really strange reaction, but she didn't mind. She was just glad that she was able to tell her what she was really feeling.
There was a knock at the door.
"Bryce, we're ready for you on the set."
Karen's eyes went wide.
"You're not my sister, are you?"
The woman shook her head. Karen dropped her.
"Well . . . Are you going to tell anyone about this?"
The woman shook her head quickly.
"Good," Karen said, "Do you have any idea how I can get back to . . ."
The woman pushed the red button forward with her foot. Karen smiled and pressed it.
"Thank you!"
She disappeared into thin air, leaving the woman alone in the room. After a moment, she dove for her cellphone and dialed a long number. She fidgeted in agitation as she waited for the shrill tone to subside. When it did, she lifted the phone to her ear, her hand shaking.
"I found one."
***TSJWFEW***
Karen made it back to the wedding just as Owen was finishing up his vows. She had changed back (thank god), and fit easily in her designated seat. Hardly anyone noticed her sneak in, for all eyes were on Owen.
"-thought I was saving you, but really, it was the other way around. A year ago, I never would have thought that I was ready for this, but I guess that's how life goes. Adventures don't come to you when you're ready. You have to accept them on your own. All in all, I guess what I'm trying to say is that traveling the world, getting stuck as a rodent, and fighting giant dinosaurs was nothing. The real adventure was getting to know you, and seeing how spectacular you are. Claire Dearing, you are amazing."
There was applause. Karen watched as Claire took a deep breath. She was right about the dress: it made her look absolutely radiant.
"Owen, we've been through a lot together. I would say that it all started when we got in a crate to fly to Cambodia, but that's not exactly true. It didn't start when I woke up after a brief coma, it didn't start when you returned my necklace, and it didn't even start with our first date. It started during a time that I can barely remember. I wish I could. From what I recall, that was our very first adventure."
***TSJWFEW***
"You're very vain, you know," Owen muttered, "Why do you let your world revolve around how people see you?"
Claire frowned.
"Idiot. I don't care what other people think . . ."
"So, why do you only dance in private?"
Claire rumbled menacingly.
"What I do in my spare time is none of your business. You have no right to judge my personal activities. Why were you watching me, anyway?"
"I needed to deliver a form, but I heard music, and-"
Claire kicked him to the side.
"Don't make excuses. We have a mountain to climb."
***TSJWFEW***
"It wasn't the same when we started. I don't think we liked each other very much. We were afraid to like each other, but for different reasons."
***TSJWFEW***
"Watch it! I'm trying to climb, here!"
Claire snorted.
"Don't rush me."
"Rush YOU? You're the one who-"
Claire made a swipe for him, but ended up slipping from the rock. She landed on her belly.
"Ow . . ."
Owen grinned.
"Maybe I should go first."
Claire snorted with disdain.
"I hate you."
"Shut up."
Claire began to climb the ledge again. Owen laughed as she swung her tail back and forth in frustration.
"You look like you're dancing."
Claire gave a deep rumble.
"Watch it . . ."
Owen sniggered.
"Shake your groove thing, shake your groove thing. Yeah! Yeah!"
Claire pulled herself up onto the ledge and turned around. She took an alternate route that ran along the flat part of the mountainside. Owen frowned in confusion.
"You know, it'll take longer if you go that way . . ."
Claire didn't turn around.
"I don't want to climb anymore."
***TSJWFEW***
"But we got to talking. If I remember one thing, it's when you told me that I shouldn't be afraid to dance. I don't know why, but that always stuck with me."
***TSJWFEW***
"What am I supposed to do? I've built up a reputation. I'm always neat and tidy, and I'm meticulous to no end. I can't just show up to work in sweatpants and a hoodie. I can't be casual. I'll look ridiculous if I pull a stunt like that. What can I do to be less intimidating?"
"You could stop wearing makeup."
"What would THAT accomplish?"
"You'd have more time to dance."
Claire frowned.
"Stop bringing that up."
Owen rolled over and stared into her eyes.
"Look, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Plenty of people are caught dancing when they think no one is watching. It's like mas-"
Claire lifted her front foot.
"Don't make this weird."
". . . Point is, a lot of people are caught dancing."
"Have you been caught?"
"Well, no."
Claire hummed. Owen tapped his fingers on the ground.
"I've been caught singing in the shower, though."
Claire raised her eyebrow.
"You sing?"
Owen traced circles in the dirt.
"Not well. It takes courage."
"Stage fright?"
"Yeah."
***TSJWFEW***
"I think something changed after that. I don't know what it was, but I'm almost positive that it happened for a reason."
***TSJWFEW***
"Claire . . ."
She bit her beak.
"Yeah? . . ."
Owen took a deep breath.
"Never mind."
"Were you going to call me a cow?"
"No."
"I chewed cud today. I guess that kind of makes me a cow."
Owen put his hand over hers.
"I like cows."
***TSJWFEW***
"Even when things started to go wrong, you never gave up."
***TSJWFEW***
"Owen . . . I'm sorry. I'm not . . . not going to . . . make it."
He shook his head.
"Don't talk like that. You'll be fine. I promise, nothing bad will happen to you."
She took a deep breath and struggled to form a coherent sentence.
"If I don't make it, don't blame yourself. We tried."
Owen pressed his forehead against her beak.
"No, no . . . Claire, come on! We can make things right. We've come so far . . ."
She smiled.
"We have, but it's not enough. Not this time. I'm sorry for being mean to you."
Owen shook his head.
"Don't apologize. It's all in the past."
"You sing well. You should sing more often. Don't be afraid."
***TSJWFEW***
"You were always there for me. Always. You didn't have to be. No one else would have done what you did. You had enough courage for the both of us."
***TSJWFEW***
"Claire, can you speak?"
She shook her head.
"Not even a little?"
She shook her head.
"Try?"
She turned away. Owen pulled her closer.
"Come on. I won't make fun of you. I promise."
Claire opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She looked very disappointed with herself.
"Try again," Owen said quietly.
Claire took a deep breath, and gave a quiet moo. She tossed her head in frustration.
"Come on, Claire. Say something . . ."
She tried to turn her head. Owen grabbed her horns.
"Say something! Please, say something!"
She yanked herself out of his grasp. With a deep bellow, she sat down in the snow with her back turned to Owen. He crawled over on his hands and knees. At first, Claire refused to make eye contact with him, but when he put his hand on her shoulder, she couldn't help herself.
"Say something. I love you."
***TSJWFEW***
"It all started when you said you loved me for the very first time. That's when I knew. I was a dinosaur, just like I am now. But when you said that you loved me, it didn't seem to matter. I forgot what I was, because you made me forget. You make me feel brave when I've run out of courage. You make me feel happy when I have nothing to hold onto. Most of all, you make me feel beautiful, even when I'm not. I love you, Owen Grady, and I can't imagine loving anyone else for as long as I live."
From where Karen was sitting, she could clearly tell that Owen was barely keeping himself together. There were tears lining his eyes, and Claire's too. When Gray brought them their rings, they barely broke each other's gaze. Somehow, they managed to convince the entire crowd that there had never been any words truer than "I do". In that moment, true love was not only possible, but it was an absolute certainty. It became clear that the simple idea of love was enough to conquer everything. It tied them together like a knot forged from their very emotions, binding their destinies forever.
They were pronounced husband and wife, and the whole world knew that something beautiful was about to begin.
***TSJWFEW***
After the ceremony, Karen sat with Vivian and Zara at the reception. They laughed and drank champagne and had a good time. Karen forgot all about her divorce papers. After a particularly rowdy gossip session, Gray ran up to her with a big smile.
"Mom! Mom! You have to meet this guy!"
He ran back and dragged Lowery over.
"He knows everything about dinosaurs! Tell her."
Lowery shrugged.
"Well, I don't know everything . . ."
"How much does Aunt Claire weigh?"
"Approximately five thousand eight hundred pounds."
Karen laughed.
"Has Gray been bugging you?"
"No, not at all. He's a smart kid."
Karen ruffled Gray's hair.
"I know. I'm lucky to have him. I'm Karen, by the way."
"Lowery. Lowery Cruthers."
As they shook hands, something landed between them. After a brief kerfuffle, they found themselves holding Claire's bouquet. She gave them a wink and led Owen to the dance floor. Karen and Lowery placed the bouquet on the table.
"So."
"So."
Lowery twiddled his fingers.
"Do you have anyone to dance with?"
"I do now."
They joined Claire and Owen, whirling around as the sun set over the mountains, casting a gentle glow over the valley.