Clawen - Season 3

Send My Love - Part 5 (Alternate)

The days passed. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Karen and Scott's relationship had reached unscaled heights of love, and the boys, well, never mind.

As it turned out, Zia loved Franklin. As in, yeah, not his skills, but him. Took him a while to recover from that shock.

Ben and Kevin used to drop in occasionally, telling stories of their heroic adventures to their friends, including Zach and Gray. Sometimes even Zara, Masrani, Zia and Franklin used to join in the storytelling fun.

Owen was hanging out with Lia, and he would be lying if he said that he didn't like her. But the fact was that his painful times with Claire were something he needed to brush off, but had a hard time doing so.

Claire herself enjoyed her times with Sydney and Maisie, and Karen and the boys. These days, she felt closer to them than she could remember. Maybe due to the time she had, now that she had lost him forever.

But fate willed otherwise.

--

But that's later, because on Nublar, it's 18th, and our main duo is drifting apart.

Not cool.

Franklin and Zia had 3 dates by now, Ben was already popular among the people for the first time in 6 years, Owen and Lia were getting more attracted towards each other day by day, and Claire was busy having fun (or atleast she's trying; reminds of 'Atleast I'm trying, you can't run from everything Owen'). She never had so much of free time to personally bond with the her sister and her nephews, nor her daughter, either due to disasters, or Owen. And the 2 were rather conveniently linked.

The days came and went (repeat that twice). Same for the routines, and soon, the date everyone was waiting for (and Claire dreaded) came: 1st March 2020. Ms. Lia Rodrigues was set to become Mrs. Lia Grady. If she changed her surname, that is. The fact was that Owen was sweet enough that he would love it if Lia didn't want to change her surname. She didn't.

Okay, so cut that Grady, and replace it with Rodrigues, my dear readers.

The wedding hall was in full preparation. The guests were Karen, Scott, the boys, Ben, Kevin, Lowery, Vivian, Masrani, Zara, Franklin, Zia, (you guys), Barry, and of course, a certain Claire Dearing.

But Claire wasn't sure that she would survive the wedding, or atleast, go through the whole ceremony without breaking down or some other mental disaster (there's that 'd' word again). But she decided to go. For Owen. 

She gave a thought to wearing the blue dress she wore on the yours-truly flight from Paris in 2015. But nah, she'd worn that just a week ago. So, why not one of her favourites?

And she wore a black dress, which she had worn that night at the restaurant (you know which restaurant) and many other occasions before the Indominus havoc. The fact was that she had only worn it 10 times since June 2015.  No goosebumps, she warned herself.

The guests started arriving. Zara, Zia and Franklin in their best wear, Ben in a suit that had the teenage girls falling for him, Kevin in a suit that Ben had given him for a dance at Gwen's school (Save The Last Dance), Masrani in his formal yet wonderful suit (looks like all the boys were attracted to suits anyways). And then our lady stepped in.

Claire had everyone (even Lia) blown away. She was amazingly beautiful. Owen was going to get ready, when he saw her. He remembered those times when she wore it, rare, but vividly remembered by him; thinking about those times moved him to tears.

"You look amazing Claire," Lia remarked, "I'm feeling jealous of you least you steal Owen away."

Lia obviously meant it in good humor. But that just made Claire heartbroken again.

"You are no less," Claire said with a chuckle. "Congrats." As they embraced, everyone was just... going about their business. Trying to, atleast.

Claire had been talking with Zara, but hadn't had the courage to walk up to Owen. However, the man made the decision for her.

Owen walked up to Claire. People who noticed must have felt mixed; on one hand, Claire certainly was (looked) happy with Owen beginning that important chapter in life even with someone else; on the other hand, the fact that their hearts wanted Claire to be the soon-to-be-wife and not Lia was completely shattered.

In short, whoever saw this, didn't want to miss what could be the final moment Claire could see Owen. Because they feared that Claire would just die of grief without Owen by her side.

"Hey," he greeted Claire with the style of a gentleman.

"Oh hi Owen. Love the suit," she remarked, trying not to invoke memories for reasons given below.

"Yeah, I actually wore it before that day you, told me about Sydney.." he looked down, trying his best to not let his own heartbreak show.

"Anyways," he exhaled deeply with a chuckle. "I love your dress. Been a while since you wore it, huh?"

"Oh, yeah.. thanks."

They just laughed, but not out of happiness. It was just a small laugh, and Claire then whispered, "Congrats again." She didn't have the power to say anything, least she should burst out crying.

"Well, see you around." Well, she could say that anyways.

--

"Claire?"

Claire, who was talking with Karen, was called by Barry man himself. "He wants to see you."

'He' being Owen of course.