A/N: Littlefoot and Chomper are in trouble now. Shorty finally opens up. They are all brought together closer as a family.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Land Before Time and its characters. Original character's are mine though.

CHAPTER 4

Bron, Littlefoot and Chomper had returned to the Great Valley. Bron set them down and he watched on as all of Littlefoot's friends surrounded and hugged both Littlefoot and Chomper. The elder long necks approached and nuzzled them too.

"Hey guys guess what? Red Claw won't ever bother us again!" Chomper started.

They all looked at him puzzled. Bron then told of what happened.

"Oh, we must let everyone know. We have to have a meeting with the council. I'll start gathering them now. Come dear." Grandpa started making his way towards other herds, Grandma following.

"For the first time in my life, when I looked at the sharpteeth parents I didn't see cowards. I simply saw a mother and a father who love their son and care about his wellbeing. And they didn't try to harm Littlefoot or myself either. We worked together to defeat Red Claw." Bron concluded.

Shorty was wide eyed and slack jawed the entire time. He didn't know what to make of this. Brea was shocked by this too. She had seen and done a lot of things in her life, but she never saw or heard of this. She was right about her earlier thoughts about Bron. He really was an extraordinary longneck. Handsome too.

As Littlefoot's friends was getting ready to leave, Littlefoot and Chomper was called to stay by Bron. They all looked at Bron with questioning eyes.

"You kids go on and play, I need to talk to these two." Bron narrowed his eyes at both Littlefoot and Chomper.

"See you later Littlefoot!" Cera tried to hide a smile.

For a split second Littlefoot's dad looked as angry as her dad always did. She was sure Littlefoot was going to get it. The gang all looked at one another then hurriedly scrambled away. Once certain all the kids were away, Bron approached the little sharptooth and his son.

"What were you two thinking venturing into the Mysterious Beyond like that? I could have lost both of you."

"Dad I." Littlefoot started.

Bron continued. "Quiet Littlefoot. The Mysterious Beyond is completely off limits and I know you two know this. So why did you do it?"

Bron didn't raise his voice at all, but his face was lined with sadness and concern. Littlefoot and Chomper could feel the disappointment in that look. That right there felt more like a punishment more than anything else.

After an eternity Chomper was the first to speak. "That would be my fault Mr. Littlefoot's Dad. I left the Great Valley to return home with my parents, after feeling like I didn't belong here anymore."

Chomper wrung his hands together in a nervous gesture while looking at his feet. Hearing these words made Bron's heart seize up in his chest. He felt bad for the little sharptooth, especially since he knew that Shorty and Brea and himself had something to do with that.

"Dad, I couldn't sleep last night so I got up to overlook the Great Valley and that's when I saw Chomper leave and I followed him. I just wanted to make sure he was okay. Upon learning the reason for leaving, I had to make sure he found his parent's safely."

Bron nodded at this. At least it wasn't a foolish reason for them to wander into the Mysterious Beyond. But still the Mysterious Beyond was completely off limits for them.

Bron sighed. "I'm glad you two aren't hurt." He then focused his attention on Chomper.

"Little sharptooth. No Chomper I meant. I do believe I owe you an apology for my part in making you feel like you don't belong here in the Great Valley. I've been harboring anger and spite for your kind since the death of Littlefoot's mother, but I should have never judged you since you yourself didn't cause that. If my son trusts you, then you have my trust as well. If it's alright with you I'd like to start over and be your friend as well." Bron finished, he noted both boys were teary eyed.

"Dad, I." Littlefoot started, he was choked up.

Chomper started to shed full on tears. "Thank you Mr. Littlefoot's dad, thank you. That means so much to me. I want to be your friend too."

He happily threw himself at Bron, who in turn bent down to nuzzle the little sharptooth.

"Mr. Littlefoot's Dad is too long. Just Bron is fine, little one."

He knew then that the healing for him had begun. He thought it ironic, a sharptooth had caused him so much pain and yet it was another sharptooth who started the healing for him. This was fate he decided. That was the only explanation for what was currently happening in his life.

Hearing the conversation made Brea step forward towards Chomper.

"Chomper I too apologize for making you feel like you don't belong here. It was rude of me to judge you and I hope we can be friends as well. In watching you interact with all your friends made me realize that you aren't like the sharpteeth I've encountered in my life. You care for your friends and have shown me that you're never too old to learn something new. While I'm here, I wish to learn much more, if you allow me to that is."

Chomper rubbed his already raw eyes. He couldn't stop the emotions coursing through him.

"I want to be your friend too. Thank you."

Brea lowered her head to nuzzle the little sharptooth. Shorty thought about everything. All his hate of sharpteeth had arouse from stories he had heard from travelers and from minor run ins with them. He never lost a loved one to a sharptooth like both Littlefoot and Bron did. And if those two found it in their hearts to welcome this one into their circle, he should do the same. He wasn't going to become friends with all sharpteeth he came across, but he could with this one. He stepped forward.

"I'm sorry too Chomper that I made you feel like that. Bron pointed it out to me that I was doing exactly what I hate having done to me. I get judged a lot too and I know how it makes me feel. I hope we can be friends too."

Chomper walked over to him and hugged him. "It's okay. And I want to be your friend too." He rubbed his eyes and Shorty nuzzled him too.

Littlefoot was far from dry eyed himself. Things were going to be okay now. Silence enveloped the five of them, till Chomper and Littlefoot both composed themselves. Chomper, Littlefoot and Shorty were getting ready to leave.

"Shorty you can go, but you two are staying put." Bron said.

Shorty looked at Bron then at Littlefoot and Chomper. "See you two later." He then disappeared within the bushes.

"Dad, can we go now?"

"No Littlefoot. While I'm glad nothing happened to you and Chomper, you two are not allowed to leave this nest till seven days have passed. Maybe it will make you two think long and hard about wandering into the Mysterious Beyond."

Chomper raised his arm, "But Mr. Littlefoot's dad. I mean Bron, I can't eat anything here."

Bron nodded. "Chomper, I will take you to eat and after you are finished we will return here." Chomper nodded his understanding.

Bron looked at Littlefoot, "while we are away you are not to leave here at all."

"Yes dad. I understand."

"Good." Bron ended the conversation, taking a glance at Brea who was at some nearby trees.

Both Littlefoot and Chomper sat on the ground and thought about their actions and what could have happened. All things considered, they were all safe and didn't have the threat of Red Claw hanging over them anymore.

Days had passed and true enough Chomper and Littlefoot hadn't left the nest. Bron had been with them the entire time. He took Chomper to eat like he said he would and Littlefoot hadn't disobeyed his father. The first day had been hard because his friends had come to get them so they could play. Bron had informed them that while Littlefoot and Chomper couldn't play with them, Shorty could. To make things easier, Shorty had agreed to meet the gang at the watering hole. Brea had stuck around even though she wasn't in trouble. She would leave time to time but she'd come back.

Littlefoot and Chomper had found games to play in the nest and Bron allowed that. It would have been cruel of him to not allow them to play and that wasn't his style of parenting. He was both fair and just, just as he was with his herd. It's what made him a good leader, a good father to Littlefoot, and a good guardian to Shorty.

Brea had approached him as he stood near trees to eat.

"Brea you don't have to be here like this." He murmured.

"I know, but I want to." She countered.

Bron really couldn't see why, but didn't question it.

"I went to see what Shorty was up to." Brea started.

"You did? And how did that go?"

"Well I could see they all miss Littlefoot and Chomper."

"Yes I know they do, but it has to be this way."

"I know that too. I'm just glad things turned out okay."

"Yeah me too. I'd rather be disappointed with them for a split second, then mourn them for the rest of my life. Chomper included."

Brea could see that the little sharptooth was growing on Bron. He was growing on her too and he was cute.

A rock had hit Bron's foot and Littlefoot came running for it.

"Sorry dad."

Bron looked down at his son. "It's okay don't worry about it."

He bent down to nuzzle him. Even though he was a bit disappointed, he wanted Littlefoot to know that he wasn't mad and that he still loved him. Chomper saw this and looked away sighing. He already missed his parents and wondered when he would see them again.

Bron wasn't his father, but Chomper respected him since he was a grownup and Littlefoot's father. And he helped his daddy defeat Red Claw.

"Chomper get over here will you." Littlefoot called out to his friend.

Chomper looked at father and son and made his way over to them. Bron nuzzled him too.

"I just wanted you two to know that I'm not mad at either of you. I was worried and a bit sad when I found out you both were gone but I was never mad. I'm glad you two are safe. I know a lot of us would be very sad if something happened to you both, so this is the reason for not being allowed to leave here."

"Dad it's okay, I get it."

"I do too Mr. Littlefoot's dad. I know my mommy and daddy would be very sad too."

Bron nodded. "Good, I'm glad you two understand." Bron took a step back, "go and play now."

The two nodded and kicked the rock back to where they were chasing after it. Brea had observed the whole thing. Bron really was a good father. She could see why he was a great leader too.

She approached him. "Those two are something else. It's unlike anything I've ever seen."

Bron nodded. "It is something else, a leaf eater and sharptooth being friends. I haven't seen anything like this before."

Brea looked away then back at Bron for a bit who was watching both Littlefoot and Chomper play.

"I know you mentioned what happened in the Mysterious Beyond. But how did it really make you feel?"

Bron turned his attention to Brea.

"When I first got to the scene, the first thing I immediately noticed were the three grownup sharpteeth. Two males and a female. The female was holding both my son and Chomper. I knew she wouldn't hurt them or myself, but I couldn't help the acceleration of my heart rate as she approached me to hand them over. Even though I felt myself visibly prickle, I remained calm standing where I was."

Brea was more than impressed. But again it was Bron and he was extraordinary. She never met a longneck like him before.

"In the face of danger, you kept cool and remained calm. Impressive."

"I can't afford not to. Being the leader of a large herd, you can't lose your cool. You put others in danger even more if you do. The herd looks at me for both support and direction. I have to be that rock for them."

Brea could see that. Brea nodded announcing, "I'm going to take a look around."

Bron nodded and she walked away.

A few more uneventful days had passed. Chomper was with Bron. He was lifting small boulders and digging through the mud to find his meal. Bron helped move the boulders with his tail that Chomper couldn't quite move. He didn't want the little sharptooth to starve.

"Thanks for helping me."

"You're welcome. You ready to head back now?"

It was Chomper who shook his head.

"Oh. Are you still hungry?"

Chomper shook his head again. Bron tilted his head sideways, a confused look on his face now.

"Can I tell you something Mr. Littlefoot's dad?" Chomper winced, then corrected himself, with a nervous smile. "I mean Bron. Can I tell you something?"

Bron nodded. "Sure Chomper."

"When I heard Littlefoot speak about his mommy, it made me really sad and confused. Sad that he lost his mommy and confused that he wanted to be friends with the same kind that took his mommy away." Bron nodded, figuring as much.

He was glad, the little sharptooth trusted him enough to talk to him about how he was feeling.

Chomper continued. "I asked my mommy and daddy if they had anything to do with it. And they told me they didn't. But they heard about it. It made me feel good knowing that my family didn't cause your family all that pain."

Bron looked down at the little sharptooth. He hadn't expected this at all. He could understand the need to know if his parents were involved and the relief he must have felt when he found out they weren't. It happened so long ago, he was sure the sharptooth who did that was dead by now. Then it hit him, he and Littlefoot never talked about it. He didn't know if Littlefoot wanted to talk about it or not. But he would find out. He looked down at the little sharptooth again.

"I'm glad to know that your parents had nothing to do with it. And I'm also glad you found out the truth. That took a lot of courage to do that." And Bron meant that, it was courageous to ask your parents if they had a hand in causing your friend pain.

"It means that Littlefoot and I can be friends forever."

"Yes. I know." Bron murmured, almost absentmindedly.

"Thank you for letting me talk to you about it Bron."

"You're welcome Chomper."

The two headed back. When they got back Shorty and Littlefoot were kicking around a pointy seed. Littlefoot heard his father and Chomper approach. He stopped kicking the pointy seed.

"Dad you're back!" Bron nodded and Chomper went running towards Shorty.

"Why are you here? Littlefoot and I are in trouble. Not you." Chomper was curious.

"I know, but I just wanted to be here with Bron too."

Littlefoot gave his father a knowing look. Bron recognized that look. Shorty didn't admit that he wanted to spend time with Littlefoot too. But both father and son picked up on this. Slowly but surely things were changing.

The seven days had finally passed. Littlefoot was curled around Chomper asleep. He started to stir a bit. Movement on his left side had woken up Bron. He looked around then looked down. He watched on a bit as Littlefoot was stirring. Eventually this woke up Chomper. Chomper rubbed his eyes a bit disoriented before getting up. He stretched and shook his tail a bit. He was now fully awake, finally noticing Bron looking down at him.

"Morning Mr. Littlefoot's dad."

"Morning Chomper."

"Can we go eat?" Chomper asked.

"The seven days have passed. You don't have to be here anymore." Bron informed him.

"I know, but can you just take me one more time?" Chomper asked shyly.

Bron couldn't see why he wanted him to, but it didn't hurt anything. He figured the little sharptooth would have immediately high tailed it out of there the minute the bright circle rose.

Bron stood up, "Sure. Lead the way."

Chomper had led him to where he knew to look for food.

Littlefoot had woken up and noticed his father and Chomper was gone. Today was the day he and Chomper could go play. He didn't know if he should wait till his father got back or if he should stay put. He decided to stay put.

Shorty was once again sleeping next to Brea. Neither seemed to mind. Brea woke up and looked at the young longneck at her side. She was touched, and it made it that much harder to leave the Great Valley. But she knew it was something she was going to do eventually. She hoped that she could talk to Shorty before she had to leave.

Bron and Chomper finally came back. Littlefoot had been rolling a rock between his feet when they returned.

"Littlefoot, Chomper. I hope you two have had enough time to think about wandering into the Mysterious Beyond." They both nodded and Bron continued on.

"Good. You two are free to go and play now. Just be careful." Both Littlefoot and Chomper nodded and took off.

Bron chuckled. Brea had approached.

"Shorty's been sleeping next to me each night now. I think he's ready to talk." Bron nodded.

"Yes, I think so too. I think he feels really comfortable around you."

It was Brea's turn to nod. "Which is going to make leaving all the more harder for me." Brea confessed.

"Then maybe you shouldn't leave. If you tell him you're leaving, you won't get that opportunity to talk to him."

Brea was aware of this too. If she could save the young longneck from heartache like she had suffered, then what more was there for her to do? She hadn't been able to join her family in death. Maybe there was a reason why she had gone through everything she had gone through. Maybe this was the reason, to hopefully make a difference in someone's life.

Both Bron and Brea watched on as Shorty stirred a bit then finally woke up.

Shorty had woken up and looked at the two grownup longnecks who were both looking at him. He looked around noting that it was just the three of them. He had both of their attention. He started fidgeting a bit. Bron approached.

"Good morning Shorty."

"Morning Bron morning Brea." He murmured shyly.

Brea approached. "Good morning Shorty."

"What do you say the three of us spend today together?" Bron asked.

Shorty perked up. "Really? Just the three of us?" Bron and Brea both nodded. Shorty leapt into the air. He was happy. He finally would get Bron's attention again.

"I found a really cool place that's a bit secluded." Brea spoke up.

"Lead the way." Both Bron and Shorty followed Brea to a secluded spot in the Great Valley surrounded by pear trees.

Once eating their fill, Brea spoke up as she sat down. Bron sat down too.

"Shorty, I asked Bron what happened to your family and he told me. I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone."

Shorty narrowed his eyes a bit, he didn't want to talk about it. Brea continued.

"You're not alone because something similar happened to me."

This had his attention now.

"Huh?" Was all Shorty could say.

"When I was your age I lost my entire family to a massive earth shake as the ground opened up beneath us. My family fell to their death and I was the sole survivor of that tragedy. I spent so much time being angry and feeling helpless. My feelings prevented me from actually fully living. And I just wanted to tell you this so you don't waste your potential at having a fantastic life like I have." Brea paused, then took a quick look at Bron who was focusing on Shorty. She continued.

"You don't want to get close to Littlefoot or the others out of fear that you will lose them too. Am I right?"

This brought Shorty to tears, all he could do was nod. He was so scared of opening up to them. But in doing so he was isolating himself too. Bron saw this.

"Bron hasn't left you and he's not the only one that cares about you. Look around you, we all do. No one here wants to see you hurt at all, and we can't help you if you don't allow us. I know we can't bring your family back, but you have to recognize that what you have here with Bron, Littlefoot and the others is a second chance at having a family."

Brea turned her attention to Bron. "I wanted to thank you for letting me be a part of your family and showing me what family really means, however temporary that may be." Bron nodded.

Shorty was fully crying now then it hit him. "Wait, you're leaving too? No. You. You can't." He composed himself enough to get that out.

"Shorty this wasn't forever. I never stay in one place for long. I'm destined to wander the land. I don't have children or a mate or anything."

At this point Shorty had run over to Bron. Bron had nuzzled him. It was all he could do to console him.

"Bron make Brea stay. She can't just leave us like this. It's not fair." Brea's heart was breaking.

Bron's words swam in her ears. "Maybe you shouldn't leave."

At Bron's silence, Shorty took off. He couldn't stand that Brea was going to leave and couldn't stand that Bron wasn't going to stop her. He felt like she was abandoning all of them, but mainly she was abandoning him. He had no idea where he was going, but he had to get away.

The two grownups watched him take off. They both exchanged sad glances before getting up to go after him.

Littlefoot and the others were playing hide and seek and he was it. He had just finished counting and now he was starting his search for his friends. He heard the footsteps too late. Shorty had crashed into him and they both went sprawling.

Littlefoot stood up grunting. "Ouch, what the?"

He took a closer look at Shorty. Shorty had tears in his eyes and was full on crying. Littlefoot was taken aback by this, he had never seen Shorty so distraught before. He leaned down and began to nuzzle him, totally forgetting that he was in the middle of a game let alone being it.

"Hey Shorty, what's going on? Are you okay?" He questioned.

"Brea's leaving us. She can't leave me. I need her." Was all Shorty got out, before going into hysterics again.

Littlefoot felt his heart sink. He really liked having Brea around. Louder footsteps approached.

"Shorty." Littlefoot heard his father's voice.

Shorty had got up and started to take off again. Bron had entered the clearing and upon seeing Shorty start to take off, he began to chase him. He wasn't going to let Shorty run from him anymore. He caught the young longneck by his tail and hoisted him up in the air.

Shorty struggled. "Bron let me go. Let me go!" He was hysterical.

Littlefoot looked on, hearing more footsteps approaching. He looked up and it was Brea.

"Brea is it true that you're leaving us?" He asked as his voice broke.

"Oh Littlefoot". She bent down and picked him up.

Bron had turned around and made his way toward them with a sobbing Shorty in his mouth. The four longnecks made their way back towards home.

After a while, the gang had come out of their hiding spots.

"Littlefoot is not a good seeker today. He is not." Ducky observed while looking around.

Chomper sniffed the air. "That's because he's not here." Chomper concluded.

The gang all looked at one another.

"I don't think we should go looking for Littlefoot and Shorty just yet." Chomper said while looking around. He knew more than what he let on and didn't want to be the one to say anything about it.

Ruby spoke up, "I think Chomper is right, let's go play slide and splash instead."

The gang all agreed and set out to their next destination.

At the longneck's nest, grandma and grandpa were resting in the shade provided by a large tree. They watched both Bron and Brea approaching. Littlefoot and Shorty were still being held. Shorty still sobbed. The elders exchanged knowing looks. Brea set Littlefoot down who in turn ran towards his grandparents. Bron was hesitant to set Shorty down, as he didn't want him to take off again. But he couldn't talk while holding him in his mouth either.

He set Shorty down, and to his surprise, the young longneck didn't take off. Instead, he lowered his body to the ground and covered his face with his front feet and shook as he continued to weep. Bron looked on with a sad look in his eyes. In all the time he had been looking after Shorty, he had never seen him so distraught. Bron knew that Shorty always held everything in, and today all of his feelings and emotions exploded out of him. He bent down nuzzling the young longneck. Brea looked on with sad eyes, she was never good with this. It was always easy for her to leave, but she found leaving all of them didn't sit well with her. Especially with Shorty so upset and distraught like this. He was growing on her and made her feel like she was doing something right in her life.

Maybe she should stay here with all of them in the Great Valley. Not like she had anywhere else to be. The inhabitants were nice and welcoming and the walls kept them safe from sharpteeth. Brea stepped forward to nuzzle Shorty as well. And stayed nuzzling him till he finally calmed down. Bron had took a step back and looked over to Littlefoot who was against his grandparents just looking on.

Littlefoot had understood that Shorty needed his dad right now more than he did.

After a few more tense moments, Shorty eventually calmed down.

Bron looked on, "Shorty, are you ready to talk now?" He gently questioned.

Brea took a step back as well to give him space.

Shorty took a deep breath, then began to speak. "My mom was always so playful and carefree. She hardly ever got mad and was always laughing and smiling." He turned to look at Brea. "You remind me so much of my mom. And upon hearing you were leaving us, it felt like you were abandoning me, just like my mom did."

Well there it is, Bron thought.

"Shorty," Bron took a step forward. "I need you to understand that your mother didn't abandon you."

Shorty interrupted him. "Then why isn't she here?" He asked wildly.

"It's the circle of life." Bron said sadly, thinking of his late wife.

Littlefoot stepped forward towards Shorty. "It's going to hurt for a long time Shorty, but if you open your heart your mom will find her way to you and will always be with you." He said quietly then looked up and spotted a longneck shaped sky puffy. Shorty looked up and saw this too.

"She's the one who guided my friends and I here to the Great Valley."

Everyone was closely paying attention now. This was the first time Littlefoot spoke of his journey.

"My friends and I defeated the sharptooth that killed my mother. I think because I avenged her, that's how and why she's been with me."

Shorty was wide eyed.

"You think if I avenged my mom she'd come back to me?"

"No, you can't avenge her because she died in a fire. She wasn't killed like my mom was. Was there something she wanted for you?"

Shorty was quiet for a long time.

"Shorty?" Brea gently prodded.

"She told me right before the smoke got to be too much that she wanted me and the other hatchlings to live a long life and that she didn't want me to be alone in this life."

It was Brea who was now teary eyed.

"I think you've achieved one part of what she wanted for you Shorty. Look around you, you've got a dad, a brother, two grandparents and friends who love you very much."

She felt her own heart constricting. She didn't have any of this because she never allowed this. She never allowed others to be close to her.

The elder longnecks looked on. They saw a bit of their own daughter in Brea.

It was grandma who stood up and spoke. "My dear, you don't have to run away anymore. Why don't you stay here in the Great Valley with us?"

Grandpa stood up and spoke as well. "You don't have to be blood related to be family. We would be more than honored if you stayed here with us."

This made both Shorty and Brea shed a few tears. They finally understood. Brea felt her scared inner child start to heal.

"Brea will you stay, for me, for all of us?" Bron asked softly.

Brea tearfully nodded. She found her forever home and family. She hadn't realized it, but this is what she had always truly wanted. A family and a home to call her own. Bron nodded at this. Brea herself was growing on him and he admitted that it was nice having her around. He looked down when he felt Littlefoot nuzzling him. He nuzzled him back. Shorty had run over to Brea nuzzling her. She nuzzled him back then picked him up.

"How about we go find your friends and play in the sinking sand?"

"Yeah let's go!" Shorty wagged his tail. The two cleared the nest.

Father, son and grandparents exchanged looks.

"Thank you son, I think it was you who got through to both Shorty and Brea."

Littlefoot looked thoughtful at his father. "I'm not so sure dad."

"Littlefoot you did though. In talking about your mother, you got Shorty to open up. I think it was good for him to hear that he isn't the only one who lost his mom. But I wanted to ask you something."

Littlefoot nodded. "Sure dad."

"You mentioned defeating the sharptooth that killed your mom. Are you okay with having done that?"

Littlefoot took a deep breath. Bron and the elder longnecks waited.

"Yeah I'm okay with having done that. It was a hard journey to get here and all I could think of was mother. That sharptooth made it even harder and I was tired of him and my friends. We argued and fought a lot. But I came up with the plan to get rid of him once and for all. We pushed a large boulder onto him as he was standing near deep water. With his scrawny arms I knew he couldn't swim. So we all watched on as he drowned and never came back. Then I heard mother's voice calling out to me and I chased it and I ended up finding the Great Valley. We all found our families and mother's been with me ever since."

Bron looked on with a sad smile. Hearing all this made his heart hurt for his son. But he survived and persevered and they were reunited. He would never leave his son ever again. The elder longnecks looked on with a sad smile too. Their brave Littlefoot. Bron stepped closer to Littlefoot, then nuzzled him.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. Someday I hope you can forgive me."

"Its okay dad, and I forgave you the day I met you." Littlefoot nuzzled his father back.

Hearing these words mended Bron's heart. He had been worried that Littlefoot would never forgive him for his absence. But hearing Littlefoot declare he had forgiven him had made him feel worthy again. The elder longnecks exchanged knowing looks.

"Let's go catch up to Brea, Shorty and your friends. What do you say to that?"

Littlefoot looked up at his father and wagged his tail. "Sounds fun."

He began walking away, Bron followed. Then he turned back around calling out to his grandparents.

"See you later grandpa and grandma and thank you." The elders nodded then Littlefoot took off again.

Father and son made their way to the sinking sand. Without warning, Bron scooped up Littlefoot. Littlefoot was riding atop of his father's head.

"Figured you'd want a ride." Bron laughed.

Littlefoot laughed too. "Dad? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure son."

"What is mom's name?"

And for the first time since learning about his wife's death, Bron didn't tense up. He smiled as memories of their life together had flooded his being.

"Your mother's name is Helen."

"Helen." Littlefoot repeated. "I like it.!"

"I like it too son."

There were many things in life Bron didn't understand, but one thing he knew for certain was that things would be different going forward. Bron looked up at the longneck shaped sky puffy and smiled.

Father and son eventually reached the sinking sand and found Brea, Shorty and the whole gang already there. Bron surprised Littlefoot by jumping into the pit without reservation. Things had already started to change and they knew then that healing the past would bring them all even closer.

"Bron, Littlefoot you two finally made it!" Brea called out, laughing.

Father and son exchanged knowing looks before joining in on the laughter.

A/N: I was going to end it here, but I thought an epilogue would be great so we could see more of the dynamic between all of them.

R and R please. Thank you.