A few weeks later, the entire family was down on the beach at sunset. Danny and Grace were building a sand castle with Matt's help (or more accurately hindrance—he took great delight in smashing the castle every time it was built up. Danny blamed it on Steve's genes). Steve was watching them, curled up in dragon form. While he'd decided he was just as happy in human form, being with his family like this brought out his protective side, and that brought out the dragon in him.
Steve looked at the setting sun. "I want to fly off into the sunset," he thought.
Danny chuckled. "Isn't that a little cliché, babe? Besides, somewhat might see us."
"I don't care," Steve replied. "I want to do it."
"We shouldn't go off without Matt," Danny said.
"I'll watch him," Grace volunteered.
"No, I want us all to go." Steve added a picture of the four of them flying off over the horizon for Grace's benefit. Grace couldn't sense thoughts unless she shifted, but she could pick up on Steve's emotions and flashes of images when Steve was in dragon form, thanks to his enhanced psychic abilities.
Grace was startled. "Really? You want me to go?" They'd been meaning to for a while, but they still hadn't taken Grace flying. Life always seemed to get in the way, and lately Danny had been preoccupied with teaching Matt and Steve.
"Of course," Steve thought, and accompanied it with an enthusiastic nod. "I'll take you." This was accompanied with an image of Grace on his back.
"Oh, no, no, no," Danny said. "You are not flying with my kid, McGarrett. You'd do something crazy like try to do loop-de-loops."
Steve tried his best to look wounded, quite a feat on a dragon. "I wouldn't do that."
"Oh, yes, you would. It's bad enough I let her ride with you in the car. You are not teaching her to drive, by the way."
"Can't I pick?" Grace asked.
"Of course," Danny said. "Who do you want to ride?"
"You, Danno," Grace said. "No offense, Uncle Steve, but I want my first time to be with Danno. I can ride you later."
Steve nodded in acquiescence.
Danny turned to their younger child. "What about you, Matt? Fly or ride?"
Matt smashed the sand castle again in response. "Ride it is," Danny decided. "Grace, run up and get the harness and Matt's carry bag. They're by the back door."
Grace ran off and returned shortly with the items. Danny showed her how to rig the harness, then settled Matt into the special sack one of Kono and Chin's aunts had rigged. It was essentially a snuggy modified to go around a dragon, done in bright dragon fabric the aunt had managed to find. He was instructing Grace how to put it around his neck, when Steve spoke up. "I want to carry Matt."
Danny hesitated. "Come on," Steve wheedled. "You know I won't hurt him. I promise I'll go nice and slow. Besides, you get Grace. It's not fair."
"Okay, fine," Danny relented, and settled Matt around Steve's neck. Matt chortled and clapped his hands gleefully.
"See, he wants to ride with me," Steve said smugly.
"Whatever." Danny shifted, and Grace climbed up, settling into place. They took off, flying slowly across the water towards the setting sun. Steve wished he had a camera to capture the moment. It was just like the end to an old Western, except he had his family with him instead of riding off alone. It was a wonderful feeling.
He reached out to see how Grace was doing. He could feel awe coming off her. He remembered the feeling. He still got it every time he rode Danny. It was incomparable—better than flying himself. "Higher, Danno," Grace urged.
Danny obliged. "Faster!" Grace cried.
Danny picked up his speed, out pacing Steve and Matt, who flew steadily on. Danny flew ahead of them a bit, then zipped back and flew circles over them Steve could feel the delight coming from Grace. "More!"
Danny climbed higher, then swooped down to the ocean, leveling off at the last minute and settling in next to Matt and Steve again. "Hey, what happened to not doing anything crazy?" Steve asked.
"I couldn't resist," Danny admitted. "Besides, I have better control than you do."
"I resent that," Steve pouted. He couldn't stay grumpy for long, though. Flying with his family was too amazing. All too soon they were heading back to shore.
Grace clambered off Danny's back, still riding the high from her experience. "That was amazing! I want to do it again!"
Danny shifted and slipped Matt's carrier from around Steve's neck. Matt seemed to agree with Grace, kicking and burbling happily. Steve shifted. "Me next time," he said.
"You next time," Danny agreed, much to Steve's surprise. "But later. Dinner now."
Grace looked disappointed, but agreed. "Just don't make me wait as long," she pleaded.
Danny laughed and put his arm around her. "Looks like I've got another flying addict in the family."
Grace looked worried. "That's not a bad thing, is it?"
"No," Danny reassured her. "It's a very good thing indeed."