Weeks came and went, and Dany could swear the dragons were getting bigger by the day, even little by little. With a cup of coffee in hand, Dany made her way to the raptor compound, and when she got there, she saw Owen with the dragons. Or at least she saw Drogon. The other two were on the elevated platforms installed, watching the going ons. The platforms had been installed when Viserion had tried to land in the same tree and proceeded to nearly uproot the entire thing from the ground. They were still babies, but by design they were becoming fierce predators and large ones at that.
Owen had a clicker in his hand and a plastic baggie filled with chunks of cooked lamb. They'd discovered that dragons would not eat raw meat, but insisted it either be cooked or they cooked it themselves by fire.
"Drogon, eyes on me," Owen said, his gaze fixed on the dragon. Drogon's ember eyes followed Owen's movements, but he seemed blatantly unimpressed, curling his tail around him.
"Drogon, hey." Owen snapped his fingers to get the dragon's attention when Drogon looked elsewhere, and the action only elicited a snarl from the clearly exasperated reptile as he pushed himself to his feet. Dany wondered how long they'd been at this.
"Ah. Cut that shit ou—Drogon—!" Owen stumbled back from the patch of now scorched earth, and now Drogon was annoyed. He crawled toward Owen, who was quick enough and agile enough to be able to avoid serious harm. But the winged shadow's movements were merely a warning, and when Owen tried to step closer, Drogon opened his jaws and the glow of flame within his throat was enough to make Owen think twice.
"You realize what he's doing?" Dany giggled and Owen looked her way, puzzled. "He's basically drawn his own line in the sand, and every time you cross it, he makes it further and further to keep you away from him. He's training you."
Owen's eyes cut back to the dragon and where he noticed he'd started and now where Drogon had him, and the dragon had in fact pushed him a good ten feet further back than he had been. "You smart son of a bitch…."
Owen laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. "He's definitely one of the more intelligent animals I've worked with, if not possibly the most. But it's bizarre, because they're technically creatures that shouldn't exist but when you think about it, they've been here longer than almost anything, and elusive. And the intelligence is almost cognitive with all three of them."
Dany came into the compound through the gates and all three dragons turned their heads, and rather than flying they all sort of proceeded toward her at an excited but undignified lope. Dany knelt and cupped Drogon's head, doling scratches to the other two, and Owen came over.
"You know, you could probably teach them how to spit fire on command," He commented. "That way you have more control over it, just be sure it's not something someone will use in an everyday sentence."
Dany chuckled. "Yeah, that's the last thing I need, because I'm sure Claire would have something to say about that."
Owen rolled his eyes. "Yeah, her beloved park being set aflame by dragons she never signed up for." He snorted, but he seemed to watch her for a moment with a softer expression.
"Listen, this may sound completely out of line, but there's a shindig going on this weekend on Main. Grilling, drinks, all that, just a sort of party thing, and just so happens I don't have a date. Can't really think of anyone else I'd rather go with if you're game." He said with a light shrug and a bit of boyish, partial grin. Dany feigned suspicion, eyeing Owen curiously.
"Is this your way of asking me on a date, Owen? Like, a date date?" She asked with a teasing note in her voice.
"Maybe," Owen responded wryly with a grin. "Only if you want it to be, if not it can totally be just as friends."
"Yeah, we could call it a date," Dany decided with a light smile. Owen seemed visibly elated.
"Great! I can come grab you at seven if that works and we'll go in," He said, his smile growing by the minute.
That weekend came by quicker than Dany had anticipated, but she was giddy with excitement. She changed into shorts and a black fitted v-neck t-shirt, wearing sandals and her hair braided down to nearly the small of her back. It wasn't long before the knock on her bungalow door caught her attention and she opened it to see Owen on the other side. He wore a dark blue shirt and board shorts, and it suddenly reminded Dany of when Owen said Claire had bitched about him wearing board shorts on a date in Costa Rica and she couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hey stranger," she greeted with a smile. "This a nod to Claire's chagrin over the board shorts?"
"Oh, are you gonna give me crap about that now, too?" Owen joked.
"Never. Anyone else, maybe, but you wear them well," Dany retorted with a smirk. Something about their chemistry was different, now. Looking up at his face with those stern, but kind green eyes and boyish smirk did something stupid to Dany's heart, but it felt so comfortable all the same.
They left the bungalow to go to the party, which was only a couple minute walk from the bungalows. Once there, Dany was reminded of the night Owen had given her the dragons, and now here they were, having come to another party together. The minute they walked in, Zara hurried over to greet the both of them, and Dany could tell the way her friend's green eyes cut between the two of them with a raised brow and a smirk that she was going to have to answer an onslaught of questions later.
"I'll go grab us some drinks," Owen told her, laying his hands on Dany's shoulders as he scooted past. "Let me know what you want."
"Pinot Grigio, if they have it, if not whatever white," Dany told him. Owen looked to Zara, who held up her solo cup with whatever Dany could only imagine she was drinking.
"I'm fine, Owen, thanks," She told him.
"No problem. You ladies catch up, I'll grab those drinks." Owen stated before heading for the bar. Once he was out of earshot, Zara turned to Dany, her green eyes twinkling with mischievous curiosity.
"So you both came together?" She asked, sidling up to Dany.
"Yes, we did. No, nothing's happening," Dany laughed.
"Not yet, you mean," Zara retorted, and laughed when Dany gave her friend a light, playful shove.
"Did you come with Claire?" Dany asked, knowing Zara wasn't going to miss the fact that she was changing the subject.
"Sort of, I came in a little after her," Zara responded, bringing her cup to her lips. "She saw you both walk in and she was furious."
Dany rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling up within her. "She can be furious all she wants. What's she going to do, fire me? Nothing is happening, we came as friends, and frankly after what she's been pulling in regards to the dragons, I couldn't give less of a shit what she thinks."
Zara chuckled. "Not afraid of her anymore?"
"No. I never was, I respected her as a higher up but really, Dr. Wu is my boss. Not her. She can't do anything to me."
"True. And it's not like you were under any obligation to listen to her advice, which was also unwarranted. She's just mad because Owen is trying to move on." Zara said.
Dany nodded, and as she skimmed the crowd, she spotted Owen talking by the bar with Claire, and with Claire was a woman in her forties, tall and slender with deep mahogany red hair falling down to the small of her back. Dany saw Owen look her way, seeming caught off guard before looking back to Claire and the woman.
"Do you know that woman?" Zara asked her, and Dany realized Zara had seen it too.
"Never seen her before," Dany said with a helpless shrug, her darker brows furrowing in confusion. She had a feeling it related to her in some way, and her suspicions were confirmed when the three of them came back their way.
"Daenerys, I have someone here who wanted to meet you," Claire said. Dany felt Owen move next to her, handing her a plastic cup of wine and standing beside her.
"Daenerys Targaryen?" The woman asked, in an accent Dany couldn't identify. Up close, the woman was stunning, almost otherworldly, with piercing blue eyes. "My name is Mel, Mr. Grady bought the dragon eggs from me."
"You own the online shop he bought them from?" Dany asked. Why did this woman come all this way to meet the person who received the eggs?
Then it dawned on her.
"You must have heard they hatched," Dany pieced together, a little more receptive.
"I did, and I wanted to meet the woman who the eggs went to. I couldn't have seen those eggs going to anyone but a Targaryen, and I knew you'd be the one to have them. I'd hoped they would all hatch healthy and it seems they have."
"How—how did you know I was going to be the one to receive them?" Dany asked, her expression quizzical and a little bewildered.
"I know a lot of things, my dear. It would be difficult to explain." Mel said. "Would you mind if I stole you and Mr. Grady away for a moment?"
The blue eyes cast a look to Claire, who seemed reluctant but conceded, nodding. "Of course, Zara?"
"Absolutely," Zara nodded, giving Dany's shoulder a light squeeze before leaving with Claire.
Dany, Owen and Mel all moved toward the Mosasaur lagoon to sit on the bleachers. Mel's gaze drifted to the massive creature as it breached the surface. Most people would have been in awe by it, but while there was an obvious respect for the Mosa in Mel's gaze, it was otherwise neutral. Dany supposed a woman who knew dragons could exist would hardly be as impressed by dinosaurs as the average person.
"So, may I ask why you were so keen to speak to me?" Dany asked as they went to sit down. Owen sat on the other side of Dany while she sat next to the red haired woman.
"Well, you're one of the last remaining Targaryens," Mel said. "The eggs I had in my possession were the last remaining, but I knew they needed to go to a Targaryen. Your family's history with dragons is so extensive, it was only right you have your own, and the timing couldn't have been more perfect."
"You keep saying you knew, how is it that you know this?" Dany asked. "And my family's history and connection with dragons… I'd always thought that was speculation up until recently,"
"I'm something of a high priestess," Mel said with a soft smile. "I look into fires and it tells me what I need to know. As mad as that sounds, House Targaryen has always been Fire and Blood. The connection shouldn't surprise you, but it appears you're skeptical of your heritage."
"My father always raved about dragons and Old Valyria, but he was mad and died as such," Dany responded. "I couldn't have known what was truth and what was the mere ramblings of a man who lost his mind."
"Your father spoke some truth," Mel told her. "Your blood is that of Old Valyria. That magic never died, you were just never taught to utilize it."
"So training dragons is basically in her history?" Owen asked, furrowing his brow.
"They didn't just train the dragons, Mr. Grady. The brave men and women did not kill dragons, they rode them." Mel explained. "Zaldrīzes buzdari iksos daor."
"'A dragon is not a slave'," Dany murmured, her brows furrowing. "My father always said that, I never knew anything was meant by it."
"Do you understand High Valyrian?" Mel asked. Dany shook her head.
"Only that one phrase, because in one of the few moments of clarity, my father told me what it meant." She said.
"You know more than you think. That part of you has remained a mystery since you were born. You are a dragon, Daenerys Targaryen. That never goes away, but sometimes it lies dormant. When you awaken the dragon, the bond with your own very real dragons will be unbreakable."
Dany didn't quite know what to make of the red woman's statement. She glanced at Owen behind her, then back to Mel.
"How do I do that?"
"I can help you. It may be frightening, it may seem impossible, but if you trust me, I can help you understand your lineage."
Dany nodded softly. Owen said nothing, seeming to take everything in just the same. "How long are you here for?"
"As long as you wish for me to be. Ms. Dearing has very generously accommodated me with a bungalow, so as long as you need me to be, I'll be here."
There was something about Mel's words that brought Dany relief, but how was it this woman knew more about her history than she did? "Would you like to see the dragons?"
"If you're alright with it, I'd love nothing more," Mel said with a soft smile. "You are their mother, after all."
Both Dany and Owen drove Mel up to the raptor paddock. Owen parked the jeep, unlocking the doors so both women could get out.
"Don't mind the raptors. The dragons and raptors have been rooming together and seem to be getting along pretty good, just don't get too close to the fence." Owen warned. Mel nodded.
"Mr. Grady, you yourself work with large predators. You seem to be a man with respect for what they're capable of, especially with the dragons," Mel commented, her blue eyes following Echo as the scarred raptor moved slowly and silently past the fence.
"I raised the raptors from the time they hatched. I'm their alpha, but it's a relationship," He explained. "The dragons are Dany's area of expertise. She's got a bond with them unlike anything I've ever seen. Dany, I'm gonna go lock the raptors up and we can bring Mel in there. I don't wanna bring her in there while they're out."
Owen headed toward the octagon, and Mel moved up next to Dany.
"I get the sense that Owen has growing feelings for you," She commented. "Do you share those feelings for him?"
Dany had to pause to consider the question, and her answer.
"I'm not sure," She admitted, her gaze on Owen as he called the raptors into the enclosure. Watching the intensity and focus in his gaze and body as he tracked every individual raptor, Dany felt her stomach flip in a way she hadn't really paid much attention to. Watching Owen in his element, the multiple dimensions of his nature, his empathy, strength and humor with her and his passion when working with his raptors. "I feel something for him."
Mel turned her head to look at Dany with a light grin. "There is definitely a bond and feelings there. It'll only strengthen in time."
With the clang of a metal door being shut, Owen stuck his head out of the opening. "Alright, Dany, bring Mel in."
Dany led Mel into the Raptor Octagon, and once the gate was shut, all three dragons reared their heads. Rhaegal reared up and stretched his wings before dropping back down and gave a squawk. But it was Drogon who approached first.
"I knew they would hatch," Mel began as Dany knelt to Drogon and the black dragon stretched his head out to her hand. "But never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the beauty born from them. They've found their mother."
What was interesting to Dany was that Mel didn't reach out to touch Drogon, much to her relief since the dragon didn't exactly take kindly to strangers. But it was as though she knew that the dragons were gracing her with their presence in a passive manner. She didn't push that boundary.
Owen was watching Dany with the three dragons as they came over, trilling and pushing their heads into Dany's hands. Rhaegal cast a wary look in Mel's direction, his green eyes fixed on her before returning his attention to his "mother".
"Your bond with them is strong, but it can be even stronger. Once you know who you are, and your history for what it is, you can appreciate what you have with them and know how to build it." Mel said.
"And you can help me do that?" Dany asked, looking over her shoulder at the red headed woman.
"If you want my help, it is yours," Mel told her.
The sporadic tropical weather was as predictable as always, and Barry gave Mel a ride back to her quarters. Rain started pouring over the island, and after they saw Mel and Barry off, Owen lightly touched Dany's arm.
"Why don't you stay here for the night? It's dark and with the rain the road back is going to be slick and dangerous. Just crash here and I'll give you a ride back in the morning after we handle the critters."
Dany's stomach did a light flip. "Alright," She said, though she was a little apprehensive. Was this moving too fast? What was Owen hoping for?
He seemed to catch her uneasiness and his face shifted into something of alarm. "It can be totally platonic, believe me I'm not going to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. Just call it a simple sleepover."
Though his words reassured her, Dany wasn't quite sure that was what she wanted. Maybe she's just see where the night took them. As it turned out, there wasn't a whole lot of room in the trailer, and Owen leant Dany a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt of his so she could jump in the shower. She did exactly that, and through a bit of maneuvering, they managed to shift around each other so Dany could get into the bedroom and Owen slipped into the bathroom, sliding the foldable door closed.
Rain beat down on the metal roof of the trailer, mixed with the stream of water from the shower, and Dany sat crosslegged on the bed, figuring they could get sleeping arrangements figured out once Owen got out. When he did, however, Dany looked up and was met with Owen, his torso bare in only a pair of shorts. His skin was still damp from the shower, accenting every outline of muscle beneath tanned skin, his hair still wet. Dany opened her mouth to speak but found she couldn't find the words.
He was gorgeous. Every inch of him.
"I don't really have a whole lot of other sleeping areas, if you're comfortable with it, we can share the bed or I can sleep in the hammock on the porch." Owen assured her quickly and Dany shook her head, finally finding her voice.
"—No, that's totally fine. I'm not going to kick you out of your own bed." She told him.
It was almost a painfully tense apprehension on both their ends, neither seeming to really know how to approach this. Owen moved to the other side of the bed and crawled onto it, and Dany felt the mattress shift with the comforting weight of another body next to her.
"Want me to put a barrier of pillows up?" He asked, lying on his back and she heard the playful, teasing note in his voice.
"No, you don't scare me," Dany said with a grin, turning onto her side to face him. Her lilac eyes couldn't help but wander down Owen's frame before falling on a couple little thin scars running a couple inches along his ribs.
"What happened?" She asked, and against her better judgment, her fingertips brushed softly over the scars. The muscle beneath his skin shifted at her touch.
"Raising baby raptors, like rearing kittens on steroids," He said, lifting his head and looking down at the scar. "That was Blue when she was little. She started to slip off of me and tried to catch herself."
"Ouch," Dany winced sympathetically, letting her hand fall. But she found Owen's eyes locked on hers, and as though drawn by a magnet, she couldn't pull hers away either. All of a sudden, there was nowhere else in the world she wanted to be. Everything in her body felt drawn to him.
Laying a hand on Owen's chest, she leaned down and her lips brushed against his. Owen pushed himself up on his elbows and kissed her back, cupping the side of her head as his fingers carded through her silvery blonde tresses.
That kiss set Dany's blood on fire. Every nerve ending in her body ignited and she leaned into the kiss as it became a little more heated and needy. The minute he shifted and turned her onto her back on the mattress, Dany's heart stuttered. He took charge, firm but gentle, following her actions and only going as far as she would have wanted, cradling her in his arm while leaning his weight on one forearm beside her.
Dany could swear she forgot how to breathe for that second. Her hands roamed along Owen's ribs to his back, her palms moving over the bunched muscles in his shoulders. Her nails raked lightly along his skin and a sound in the back of Owen's throat, not of pain but more of desire.
His tongue sought out hers, and Dany understood when people spoke about a kiss setting fireworks off behind one's eyes. When the kiss finally broke, Owen rested his forehead against the side of hers. She could feel his ribs rising and falling as they both tried to catch their breath, hearts racing against the other.
"Would you absolutely hate me if I said this is as far as I wanted to go tonight?" She asked, fully prepared to have to explain herself, but Owen lifted his head to find her eyes. His pupils were blown, but there was something more tender in them, more affectionate. More than just lust that she knew the both of them were feeling.
"There's nothing you could tell me right now that would make me hate you," He murmured, gently brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. That sentence alone did something absolutely stupid to Dany's heart. "I told you, all this happens at your pace. I'm not gonna pressure you. I'm totally happy just having you stay over tonight. Just having this in general."
Dany's expression softened. "I appreciate it," She responded softly. She didn't really know what else to say. She felt something there, she was attracted to Owen but something had halted her actions. She did want this but it felt so fast, and with everything she had learned, her mind was racing. Owen turned over onto his side and Dany on hers as the two lay side by side. Dany listened to the rain on the roof of the trailer, turning her head to look up at the ceiling.
Maybe finally things would start making sense.