True to his word, the next free weekend they had, Danny started to teach Steve how to fly. It was excruciatingly boring, but Steve held his tongue, afraid Danny would refuse to teach him at all if he complained. He found it was a lot like learning to surf, all about balance and maneuvering his body, except he didn't have to deal with wings and a tail when surfing.

After a few sessions, Danny deemed his progress acceptable and grudgingly agreed to let Steve start to get actual air time. He wasn't allowed to go very far or very high, just enough to clear the trees surrounding the clearing where Danny was teaching him, but it was a start. He mastered take off and landing and forward flight, but he still had problems turning his massive around in a U-turn—he could manage about 90 degrees at a time and tended to fly substantially off-course sideways. Danny assured him he'd get better with practice, but Steve pouted. Danny made it looks so easy. "I'm smaller and slimmer than you are," Danny would say. "I'm more maneuverable. You, my friend, are built like a tank, and steer just about as well. Get used to it."

Steve tried, but it was frustrating. Danny had been right—he wanted to just flap his wings and take off. All this learning was hard.

At last came the day Steve was waiting for. Not, alas, the day he got to go on his first real flight, but the day Matt was ready to join them. It was his first birthday, and Danny decided a flying lesson would be a good present for all of them.

They started on the beach. Matt wouldn't be in the air, and wouldn't go very far anyway, so Danny felt the beach was enough space. Steve had done this part, so he stood by with the video camera to film it. It was hard not to jump in and help, but this was Danny's moment. Steve had gotten to witness Matt's first steps after following him around for a week with a video camera, coaxing and encouraging him until he took those first, faltering steps, picking him up and soothing him when he fell and started crying. Danny had been in the kitchen making dinner and had arrived just in time for the face-plant.

Now it was Danny's turn to be proud papa. He sent mental images to Matt of proper form and balance, and patiently adjusted his stance. Steve couldn't help but laugh at how awkward Matt was, constantly overbalancing and squawking with surprise as he hit the sand. At one point, he managed to land on his back with his legs waving in the air, mewling piteously.

By the end of the lesson, Danny deemed Matt ready for a (very) short flight. He coaxed Matt into the air, watching as Matt rose a few inches, then about two feet. Danny felt that was high enough and urged Matt to move forward. Matt tentatively moved a few inches, then gained confidence and moved a few feet, more confident now. Steve felt the exhilaration from all three of them as Matt flew for the first time. It was so much more amazing than watching him walk! The exhilaration was short-lived, though, as Matt crashed into Danny who'd forgotten to move out of the way. Danny decided to call it a day.

Lessons got more complex after that, and Steve joined in, learning along with his son. Danny complained that Matt was just like Steve, impatient and pushing his boundaries, always flying off without waiting for Danny. Steve with his greater reach was usually the one to snatch Matt out of the air before he got too far away.

Finally, Danny felt Matt and Steve were ready for their first family flight. All three shifted, filling the clearing with their bulk (Danny and Steve, anyway. Matt was still only about five feet long and three high). Their wings beat together, Danny and Steve's in unison, Matt's flapping a little faster. In tandem they rose and angled above the trees, soaring effortlessly. They were really flying! Matt and Steve were ecstatic, joy and wondering radiating off of them, and Danny had to laugh. "Danno, Daddy, I'm flying!" Matt thought. Steve echoed it. "Finally! I'm really flying!"

The flew above the trees, Danny and Steve gliding easily, Matt flapping furiously to keep up. Danny let them stay airborne longer than he had before, the flight lasting a full five minutes before Danny decided it was time to turn around. Danny and Matt made tight little U-turns Steve was still envious of as he lumbered in a larger arc, but he made it smoothly around, much to his mixed joy and relief. Danny and Matt had gotten ahead of him, but he easily caught up with a few beats of his more powerful wings. Matt was tiring, so Danny gently snagged him in his claws and carried him back, one big, happy, flying dragon family.

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A/N: If anyone really wants to see Matt's first steps, I'll write it, but it won't be dragon-y. Otherwise, I'll stick to flying! :)