The characters and the plots belong to Dolphinheart99 and to their respective and rightful owners. I got authorization from Dolphinheart99 to take some elements of her stories. I therefore own nothing, minus the names of my OCs.
It was a cold night of December 2014 in the city of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. While everyone was asleep, a little girl was inside a house coloring a piece of paper while lying on a carpet near a warm fire. The little girl, who had blueish eyes and dark brown hair, was wearing pink pyjamas and a silver whistle hanging from her neck.
The little girl's name was Valentina Grady, also called Val by her parents, and she was waiting for her parents. She was waiting for her parents who had kept her homeschooled for fear of the other children bullying or avoiding her because she was born with some never-seen-before abilities. Since she was a baby, her parents would attract animals around her, leading to bizzare situations where even the police would find her playing with dangerous animals. But her parents accepted the situation while the police and public services wouldn't even bother to ask, fully knowing how dangerous such informations would be if they fell into the wrong hands.
And Valentina's parents were actually quite decent people. Her father was named Andrew Grady and was a science teacher. Andrew never wanted to follow his father's footsteps, unlike his older brother Owen, who joined in the US Navy after graduating from college. Owen's daughter Quinn also wanted to study in college before enlisting either in the US Marines or in the US Air Force, unlike Valentina, who just wanted to play. Valentina's mother was a woman named Alma, who had met Andrew while vacationing in the US. Both of them married and had their daughter, with whom they often played and stayed by her side except at bedtime.
As Valentina finished her drawing, a blonde teenage girl wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots arrived from upstairs. The girl was named Abigail Starling and lived down the block with her brother Josh, having moved from their parents' ranch to the big city for studying. Abigail was babysitting for Valentina and therefore knew of the toddler's powers as did Abigail's brother, but both the two of them kept it to themselves, having taken a liking at the little girl.
"Valentina, it's time to go to bed." Abigail said the toddler.
"Aww... But Abby, can I stay up fow a few mowe minutes? Mommy pwomised to wead me a bedtime stowy." Valentina replied pleadingly.
"Okay, but just because it's you. I will tell your parents that their baby girl is so energetic and still awake." Abigail replied.
"Yay! You awe the best babysittew evew!" Valentina happily exclaimed.
"Crap, you're making me blush." Abigail said before noticing Valentina's drawing. "What are you drawing?"
Valentina then showed the drawing representing a long-necked animal feeding from the top of a tree."It's a Ba-wo-sau-wus." She said, trying to say the name correctly, which is Barosaurus.
"Is it a dinosaur?" Abigail playfully asked, knowing the answer.
Valentina loved dinosaurs so much that she had stuffed dinosaur toys in her bedroom. She always dreamed of meeting one in Jurassic World, she heard that her Uncle Owen works there while her cousing Quinn lived there. Her dad would tell her stories of her Uncle Owen being helped by Quinn. She hasn't met them personally yet. They did visit her when she was still a baby, but she barely remembered them. However, Quinn and Owen did know her since they and Andrew video chat from time to time. Valentina's parents couldn't take her there because they were too busy with their jobs. Not that she was complaining, but Valentina had to understand her parents' work and she had to wait a little longer.
"Uh-huh, they awe pwant eatews and they'we weally big!" Val said with a big and bright smile.
"Wow! Ah bet they can reach thuh tallest of all trees!" Abby playfully said.
Val nodded. "Yup! But they have to stand on theiw back wegs."
Abby smiles at her and sighs softly. "Alright, Sweet Pea, Ah'll make some hot coco, while we wait for your parents." She said to Val.
Val nodded excitedly before Abby went towards the kitchen to make the hot coco. Val quickly stood up and went to the sofa. She climbs up and looks at the window, waiting for her parents. Val looks outside of the dark streets while the streetlight illuminates the darkness, Abby comes back with the hot coco and gives it to Val. Val carefully took the mug and blew at the warm coco, and took little sips from it, as she waited for her parents. Val looks back at the window, hoping that her parents would come home. So, she waited and waited, and waited, but her parents didn't come home yet. Val soon fell asleep on the couch with the empty mug on her lap. Abby soon picks her up, putting the mug on the table and carries Val to bed. Once she tucked the little girl in her bed, which has many stuffed dinosaurs, she went downstairs and looked at the clock, making her worried. Andrew and Alma always come home before ten, but now, they don't. And this made Abby even more worried.
"Why didn't Mr. and Mrs. Grady come home yet?" Abby thought. She took out her cell phone and sent a text to Mr. Grady.
:Mr. Grady, it's me Abby. I was wondering why you aren't home yet with Mrs. Grady. If ya'll have an extra shift in your work, I'll watch Val till tomorrow.: Abby.
Once she sent the message, Abby went to the couch, she looked out the window and saw everyone in the neighborhood were all asleep. She texted her brother that she will stay over at Gradys since they weren't home yet and she needs to watch over Val. Abby waited for a while before she soon fell asleep on the couch, when she was waiting for the text of Andrew, but it never came. The next morning, Abby woke up bright and early, and prepared pancakes for breakfast. Abby made sure to keep her phone close as she waited for the call of Oscar's. She's really worried about Val's parents. They didn't come home yesterday.
Abby then heard little footsteps coming down the stairs. Turning around, Abby smiles softly when she sees Val coming in, holding her stuffed honey colored raptor doll that she named Honey. Honey was made by Alma; it was a gift for her when Val was still a baby. Val treasures Honey dearly, and she would sometimes talk to her as she was an imaginary friend.
"Mornin' Val." Abby greeted, helping Val up to her seat and giving her breakfast.
Val let out a yawn before greeting Abby as she ate her breakfast. Abby smiled at her, she was about to do the dishes when her cell phone rang. This caught Abby by surprise, she quickly grabbed her phone and went to the living room to answer it. As Val ate her breakfast, she heard Abby talking on her phone.
"Howdy? Oh, it's Abigail Starling...yes, I'm associated with both Mr. and Mrs. Grady...I'm the babysitter for their daughter...uh-huh...uh-huh...what!? When did this happened?!"
Val stopped eating when she hears Abby's shock tone on her voice. Val carefully got off her chair and went towards the living room. She peeked at the corner and saw Abby's shock and sad look on her face, with her phone on her ear.
"I see...thank you for informin' me...I'll tell her...thank you." Abby said, turning off her phone. She turned towards the kitchen and froze when she saw Val peeking at the corner. "Val? How long 'ave you been standin' there?"
"Not long." Val answered softly as she made her way to her babysitter. "Abby, who was that? Does he know whewe mommy and daddy awe?" She asked innocently.
Abby bit her lips worriedly. Val couldn't know about this, it was too painful, but she had the right to know. Abby took a deep breath and sighed. She bent down and gave Val a hug. The little girl was confused by this embrace, as Abby let go, she held Val's shoulders.
"Val, somethin' happened to your parents." Abby hesitantly said.
"What happened?" Val worriedly asked.
Abby took a deep breath and sighed, feeling a heavy weight on her chest, feeling that Val is too young to know this, but Abby had to tell her. Otherwise, it would be too late.
"Sweet pea...your parents, they...they've been in an accident." Abby started, feeling tears coming from her eyes.
Val gasped in worry. "Awe they okay?" She asked worriedly.
Abby shook her head. Val felt Abby's hands tighten a bit. "No, Sweet Pea, they're not."
"W-What's wwong?" Val asked worriedly, still in baby talk.
Abby didn't answer as she hugged the little girl. Val clutched Abby tightly as her eyes started to water.
"Abby, whewe's mommy and daddy?" Val sounded like she was about to cry.
Abby was crying as she hugged Val tightly.
"Sweet Pea, your ma and pa...they ain't comin' home...anymore. I'm sorry." She answered softly with a sadness in her voice.
Val's eyes widened when she felt Abby's words in her mind. Her mommy and daddy...they're gone? No, her parents promise to come home! They promised! They had to be okay, they had too! Val began to cry as tears fell from her eyes. Abby comforts the little girl gently, trying her best to comfort her. The call that Abby received came from the police. They told Abby that Val's parents were driving home when a truck came and crashed into them. Turned out, the driver was drunk and didn't see where he was going, causing him to lose control and crash into the Grady couple.
Upon that news, Abby's brother, Josh, went to police station to inform about Mr. and Mrs. Grady that they have a daughter and to retrieve their bodies to have a proper funeral. Abby contacted Andrew's brother, Owen, their mother Sue, their father Earl and Andrew's niece Quinn, about the news. It was heartbreaking for all of them.
Val cried everyday until the day of the funeral, which took place early in the cold morning. Valentina was with Josh and Abigail, who were comforting the little girl after she lost her parents. Val placed a red rose on her parents' coffins before they were buried before placing a picture of her between her parents' grave. After doing this, she went to Josh and Abby and started crying incontrollably while Josh and Abby started comforting the toddler the best they could.
Owen and his daughter Quinn were standing in the sideline next to Sue and her husband, both of whom were weeping over the loss of their youngest son. Quinn, wearing her great-grandfather's US Army garrison cap with a black raincoat, black Converse shoes and black jeans. After the funeral was over, everyone went home. Val was wearing her mother's red scarf and sitting on the couch with her grandparents, who tried their best to comfort the sobbing toddler. Owen and his daughter were standing on the door frame, watching Valentina being comforted by Sue and Earl. Before either Quinn or her father could do a thing, Abigail and Josh came over to them and motioned the two Gradies into the kitchen. Looking at the Starlings, Quinn saw they were nervous.
"What's the fucking matter?" Quinn asked after closing the door.
The siblings were silent at first, but they knew they had to tell Owen and his daughter about this. It's very important that they needed to know. But they didn't know who would tell the two Gradies the news. Abby glanced at her brother, who was giving her a silent message, telling that she should tell them. Sighing, Abby turns to Owen and his daughter.
"Owen, Quinn. We got a call from Child Services." Abby said.
"And?" Quinn asked.
"They... They think Quinn and you aren't suited to take care of Val." Abby announced.
"What the..." Owen began.
"Child Services think you're not fit for a job as her guardian. I mean, Quinn is an agressive and rowdy teenager and you're working with giant dinosaur. Not to mention your parents have health issues. Val should probably... be living with a foster family." Abby explained.
"I fucking know! My grandpa fought in Vietnam as a US Air Force pilot during Operation Ranch Hand! He got sick due to Agent Orange and my grandma is sick because she couldn't fucking afford some fucking health insurance until President Obama stepped in! I know what it is! And I fucking know what's best for her, I'm her cousin after all!" Quinn exploded.
"Not to mention most dinosaurs are in enclosures with tight security." Owen added.
"Yes but-"
"No but. Quinn and I have sworn to Andrew to take care of his kid should something happen to him and Alma. And no fucking way I will lose my niece forever." Owen bluntly stated.
Abby and Josh looked at each other. They understood Owen's determination to be Val's legal guardian, as they understood Quinn's will to be the best cousin possible to Val. So, Abby and Josh decided that they will talk with Child Services, in hopes to allow Owen and his daughter to be Val's guardians. Quinn went to the backyard while her father looked on, allowing the cold air to come to her face before contacting family friend and her father's right-hand man, Barry Sembène.
Owen then gave his daughter his phone as it began ringin. A few seconds later, Barry replied.
"Hello?"
"Hi Barry. This is Quinn. Dad and I need your help." Quinn stated.
"What the hell did you do this time?" Barry asked.
"Because Dad and I always do whenever we call you, right?" Quinn asked back.
"Yes. From your scuffles at school to your father messing up with Claire." Barry annoyingly replied.
"I know. But listen, please. This is really important. My uncle and aunt died thanks to a drunkard and left a toddler behind. Needless to say Child Services try to take her away from Dad and I. We need your help to make our house safe and suitable for a little girl to live in." Quinn replied.
There was silence at the end of the phone as Barry was processing what Quinn just told him. He guessed Quinn and her father wanted to take care of Val after what Owen told Barry about his family. Barry knew Owen's father Earl Grady had served in the US Air Force in Vietnam before meeting Sue after the war. Owen was then born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But Owen's happy life was turned upside down when Earl got diagnosed with a cancer due to his contact with Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Owen was only ten when he witnessed his father's early struggles with cancer while his mother tried her best to raise both Owen and Andrew, which forced Owen to temporarily work as a paper boy and helping out with domestic chores. When he and Andrew got older, Owen enrolled for college before joining the US Navy after Quinn's birth. Andrew went to college and became a teacher. Not only that, but Owen used the pensions he got after the US Navy to help his father with the cancer treatment, helping Earl making it while Andrew would watch over Quinn after Quinn's mother passed away when Quinn was four. But now, Quinn and Owen had to take care of Val.
"Fine. I'll help you and Owen. But it would be better if you and your father be a good example to the kid." Barry sighed.
"Thanks, dude. I knew I could count on you. Dad and I raised the girls so raising a toddler is like the same. Look, Dad and I will be back here soon to make our house safe and toddler-proof." Quinn replied.
"See you soon." Barry said before hanging up.
Quinn then put her phone in her pocket before going in the house, where she saw her father trying to comfort Val, who was drinking some hot coco, while Quinn's grandparents were searching for their youngest son's will, knowing he would have left a will should something happen to him. Quinn sighed softly and headed for Val, who looked up when she saw the green-eyed teenager coming for her. Upon reaching the toddler, Quinn bent a little and began speaking.
"Remember me? I'm Quinn, your cousin." The teenager asked softly.
Val looked at her much older cousin and nodded. "Uh-huh." The little girl whispered.
"I know you're going through a whole lot, but believe me, Dad and I will take great care of you." Quinn explained. "You will be living in Jurassic World."
Val's face lit up a little upon hearing the words 'Jurassic World' as the toddler always wanted to go there. She even begged her parents to go there one day but they never had time for it.
"Will I see dinosauws?" Val asked.
"Yeah. A whole lot of 'em." Quinn said.
Owen, Quinn, Abby, and Josh were able to convince Child Services to allow Owen to take custody for Val. At first, the head of the Child Service disagrees with this, but soon allows Owen and Quinn to have custody. However, they will send a Social Worker to investigate Owen and Quinn's house and see if it's the right place to raise her. Owen was both happy and relieved, knowing that Val would be living with him and his daughter. He soon headed back to Jurassic World to make his home child proof while Quinn would be busy with school. He kept his hardware tools and equipment out of reach. An extra room for Val to sleep in and things that Val needed. With the help of Barry, and some construction worker that owed Owen a solid and helped him make his home bigger for his niece to live in. Speaking of which, Owen was building a new room for his niece while Barry was cutting some boards. Some construction workers were measuring or hammering up the walls. All this while Quinn was still at school, studying various subjects such as German, Spanish, math and science.
Just then, a white Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupé came and parked close to Owen's almost big bungalow. A woman came out from the car. She has red shoulder length hair and blue eyes, wearing white skirt and blazer. Owen and the others stopped working as they recognized the woman. It was Claire Dearing. Claire is Jurassic World Operations Manager. She oversaw this park while the real owner was out. The owner of Jurassic World is Simon Masrani, the eighth richest man and CEO of Masrani Global Corporation. He's the one who recreated Jurassic Park for John Hammond's dream in building a theme park with living dinosaurs.
"Hey, Claire. What ya need?" Owen asked, coming down the ladder.
Claire looks at him briefly before noticing his bungalow being rebuilt. "Okay, what are you doing?" She asked, watching as Owen made his way to her. Owen made a small whistle, he forgot to mention to Claire about his niece. Sure, he did mention her during his breaks with some co-workers, but he didn't quite inform Claire about the real reason. And he wasn't sure if he should tell her yet.
"I can explain." Owen said.
"Well, you better, Mr. Grady-"
"Owen." Owen cut her off, not wanting to sound too formal.
"...Anyways, care to explain why you're making your house bigger?" Claire questioned with her arms crossed.
Owen bit his lips and slightly glanced at Barry. Barry saw Owen glancing at him and gestured to Owen to tell her the truth. Owen wanted to interject, but if he doesn't tell her, he'll lose his niece. He held back a sigh as he looked at Claire. She gave him a waiting look that said that she wanted answers. Owen rubs the back of his neck almost awkwardly as he glances at his bungalow and then to Claire.
"Well...you see...God, how can I explain this?" He muttered in hesitation before saying. "My niece is going to stay with me and my daughter."
"Wait, what?" Claire asked with wide eyes, clearly didn't expecting to hear that.
Owen lifted his hands in defense, signing her to wait. "Just hear me out, okay? Just hear me out. My brother and his wife both died in a car accident. And, well...I'm her close relative and I need to make my house safe and secure for my niece to live with me. And if I don't, Child Services will take her to a foster family, and I'll lose my custody over her." He explained to her.
Claire stared at him with wide and shock eyes, and a slight of disbelief. She never knew Owen was so determined to get custody of his niece. Sure, she sawhim slacking off on the job once and a while, and somewhat goofing off. Account of when they had their first date when he wore broad shorts, and that's why she never wanted a second date after that. But she never saw this of him, being determined to get his niece's custody. He even rebuilds his house, so his niece can feel safe and secured. She would've said no but knowing that this little girl needs someone to comfort her. Though, Claire has her doubts on Owen being the guardian of that little girl in addition to having custody of Quinn after Quinn's mother died, knowing he and his daughter were training a pack of blood thirty Velociraptors, and they were going to raise a little girl at the same time. How could they be responsible to keep the raptors at bay while keeping a little girl alive? That wouldn't be good. However, Owen did have Barry to help him out. She just hoped nothing bad happened to that little girl and hoped that she didn't make a wrong decision. So, with a defeat and annoyed sigh, Claire gave Owen a stern look, as if she was telling him to not do anything stupid.
"Make sure she doesn't wander off or get hurt when she gets here." Was all she said before leaving.
Owen secretly cheered in victory, knowing that his plan worked. Barry shook his head, praying that Val could handle her wild uncle. They continued working in fixing the house while Owen quickly went back to his work to finish making Val's room, so she could have a place to sleep. This was a great chance for him to get custody of his niece. And nothing would stop him from doing so.
He just hoped.