Contrary to popular belief, Dragons did not keep their hoard at their house or have their mating nest in said home.

They were more primal – yet, sophisticated – than that.

Dragons are notoriously possessive by nature. It's part of the reason why they preferred the old ways of the hoard. Safety and security goes without saying. And it's practically suicide to robbed a dragon.

Yet, despite their instinct, they did not hoard everything under the sun and not to an extremely excessive amount. Each dragon hoarded something different. And whatever they hoard, it was kept safe.

Dragons only hoarded something monumentally important to them. They usually held something of significant value. And those things are subjective.

Hawaii has one of the most ancient dragon cavern in the world. It's an underground city in itself. With it's own cavern system, interconnected and winding passageway, filled with spacious vaulted chambers. Full of magical lights, water stream and air insulation. It was modern, lavish and cosy. It was magical and mythical.

The caves was spread out and it wasn't as confining or completely enclosed as any usual caves. Some of the more public places has a rift that opened to the skies, adding ambient light to the place. The cavern layout might be bare and primitive; raw in it's natural design, but within the vaulted chambers, it's a different vibe.

Inside his own chamber, Steve purred as he added another item to his hoard. Around him, shredded boxes made a mess as he rearrange some stuff. He bought a lot of new things for his hoard. They would help him entice his mate–to–be. Show his mate that he could provide for them. Care for them. Protect them if needed be.

Steve took out a fluffy pillow from the box and add it to his nest. It's soft, fluffy, and moderately huge like a squishmallow – whatever that is. He had a few of those. Hopefully his Danny would like them. If not, his new hatchling, Grace, could have them for her nest – a tiny nest that he had prepared for her besides his.

Steve looked around the vault, eyeing critically. They need to be perfect. Danny can be picky. He could find fault for little-little things and he'll never shut up about it.

Then he felt bashful.

Because he can already imagine just what Danny would rant about in regarding his hoard.

His hoard have some memorabilia from his childhood. Some photo albums he stored there, some children's books that he adored and refused to let go – even if he can buy a new ones now. His precious treasure of all was a family tree tapestry that his paternal grandmother had created before the ancient dragon passed to the great beyond.

Where personal items were concerned, his hoard was very bare, very minimal, especially when a dragon's vault came with a standard huge space. It was practically empty. So, he filled them with something more personal… more him, he should say.

Danny would rant to the skies above for was the amount of artillery he has in his hoard.

Yeap. That's right. He, Steven McGarrett are in possession of some heavy duty weaponry. And he does not mean just the grenades. He was referring to some of the big booms that was painstaking to purchased and owned.

He was very lucky he knew someone, who knew someone, who knew where he could get them. He had to go through hoops and red tapes, making sure his purchase was nice and legal. The headache was so worth it!

He should buy some free–standing screen divider to hide them. Something massive in size and maybe that has cultural significance. Perhaps a landscape theme or sturdy Koa wood screen to blend in with his hoard. He do not want his mate–to–be to ran off.

The most vital part of his cavern was the nests located in one of the mini chambers of his cave.

Now, this nest was not the actual mating–birthing nest when they need to nest in their dragon form – they have a separate caves for that. The nests in Steve's hoard are purely symbolic. It's to show his future mate how well he can care for them.

Steve has gotten a big platform bed as his nest. It was filled with layers upon layers of mattress toppers and equal layers of duvet, so that it was as soft and as comfy as possible. To complete his nest, he had unholy amount of pillows and cushions he newly purchased, all in different shape, sizes, colours as well as materials. His nest is practically buried with them. It was ridiculous…

Steve sincerely hope that Danny would like their nest. He can see his Danny, his mate, in them. Lounging and languishing as he nurse their young. Grace would be beside them, looking in from her own smaller nest – if she didn't join them in their nest to begin with, that is.

. . . . .

Steve eyed his irate mate as Danny grumbled in annoyance under his breath. His poor mate received another letter through his attorney. Danny doesn't have time to deal with some repetitive matters again. Truly. He was so done being bothered by his ex-wife.

Rachel has been trying, on numerous occasions, to wrestle Danny's hatchling's custody away from him.

Not that she could do anything about it. Her endeavour was futile. When Danny opted for sole custody during their divorce, his mate made sure that they were ironclad. His lawyers are all very thorough.

There was a reason why Danny refused to give Rachel the time of day – much less entertaining any notion or wiggle room for a custody dispute.

While his Danny was a full dragon and came from a prominent clan and of a Slavic Dragon lineage, Rachel was human. And throughout their relationship, she did not know she hooked up with a dragon. Grace was technically a half dragon but lucky for Danny, her dragon bloodline was dominant.

Dragons have superior strength and senses – even in human form. So, it was foolish for a measly little human to even fooled a dragon. Much less cheat on one. The moment Rachel had strayed, Danny knew… and had employed the best of the best of lawyers in their Drakon Community for the divorce. Since Grace was a dragon, Danny got custody based on that fact alone.

Now if only Rachel could let the matter rest and moved on with her life…

Unfortunately for his Danny, Rachel was stubborn. She kept finding ways and excuses to shift the custody to her. Kept trying to get Danny into trouble so that he would loose custody. The repeated attempt was giving Danny a headache to deal with. More often than not, his mate nearly shifted form just so he could roasted her and her lawyers. It took great amount of patience for Danny to backed down.

At one point it got too much for Danny. So much so that he decided to moved away from his hometown of New Jersey just to get away from her. And he took the farthest and available posting at first opportunity.

Steve remembered fondly how he and Danny met. The Hawaiian Drakon Community had a bi-annual gathering. It's just an excuse for the Dragons to meet up and mingle. It wasn't mandatory, but it was encouraged for the Dragons in their territory to socialised with one another.

Danny had just moved to their territory. It was the rule that a dragon had to register with the local community and declared their clan. He could have waited before he socialise at the next gathering, but as Danny had left his previous community, he had thought there won't be any harm to get to know his new community right of.

Steve, himself, had just returned after a long absence. Focusing on his career and rarely did he got the time off to visit the island, much less the timing coincide with the gathering. Needless to say, they bumped into each other and the rest was history. By bumped, he meant, literally crashing and knocking each other over, spilled wine and plate of fruits over the other, because Danny was passionately debating about the wretched fruit called pineapples with someone and with his hands waving to prove his point, and that said hand hit Steve hard on the face – and all Steve had remembered from that debacle was the gorgeous, bluest eyes he had ever seen.

Danny had cursed until he was blue in the face at the chance meeting with an "Idiot, bull–headed, pea–brained of a dominant alpha of a water–loving drake called Steve McGarrett." Danny's mouthful words. Steve had been instantly charmed. Danny was adorable when all flustered.

Meeting tiny little Grace in her pastel yellow princess dress, did not help Steve with the matters of his heart. She was utterly adorable. And kept eyeing shiny little things – face scrunched cutely like she's trying to steal them for her hoard.

Throughout the rest of the gathering was spent with Steve getting to know Danny and Grace. And by the time the night was over, all Steve could think about was something along the lines of "They are mine!"

When Steve was snapped out of his musing and saw that Danny burned the letter with his own dragon fire, Steve decided a distraction was in order. Because despite he was trying not to get involved with his mate's personal matters – he had seen his Danny looking up recipe of a well–cooked, fried tender human flesh. Before Danny really commit murder, Steve might as well… draw him away.

For his own good…

. . . . .

Danny was a traditional hoarder. By traditional, Steve meant Danny hoarded gold.

At first, it started out as a tendency of Danny's to hoard gold shillings growing up. But after Grace was born, his hoard changed and he started hoarded gold bullions instead. This was something Danny added to his collection once or twice a year.

Steve only seen Danny's gold once, just pictures, mind – since he'd just move there, Danny doesn't have a vault on the island yet. He only took some of his prized treasures with him. The rest was still back in New Jersey – and it was already an impressive number of bullions. Hundred grams was what he usually bought. There are a few two hundred and fifty grams as well. Those usually were purchased for special occasions, his mate once told him.

Another thing that Danny hoarded – were crystals.

Now this was something much more mundane of his hoard, so to speak. Crystals balls and spheres of various sizes and tower crystals were his thing. There were some raw pieces and Druzy slabs as well. Lately however, he had noticed that his mate has also been collecting cute sculptured crystals. Especially the dragon-head – or Dragon Skull as it was more popularly known – or any dragon crystals he could get his hands on. That included Jade's pendant and statues.

Once a month, Danny would went and buy a few crystals to add to his hoard.

Since their work has been gruesome as of late, he figured he could take Danny there to indulged a bit… It's on him. A courting gifts for Danny to add to his hoard. Though Danny might not know it yet.

There are a few gemstones and minerals shops in Oahu. Especially in Honolulu. In Waikiki alone there are a few. Danny usually goes to that one shop near Chinatown. It was close to their office and was closer to Sand Island. There's even one a few blocks west of Iolani Palace. But the one Steve took Danny to was near Waikiki Beach. There are one or two shops there that Danny could peruse to his heart's content.

After that, he had intended to have a strolled… maybe visit Kamekona and have a light lunch as well. And have some Shave Ice. Got to have some Shave Ice.

He barely parked the car before he lost his mate–to–be like a kid in a candy store. Steve followed at a sedate pace. Eyeing the shop's wares without much interest. Crystals have never caught his attention. He knew little about Feng Shui and it was mostly general knowledge. He didn't understood a thing about it's benefits and it's energies. Whatever properties they have was lost to him. However, Danny understood some benefits and healing properties of these crystals and, again, it was more Danny's thing – so, here they were.

For Danny, It wasn't the spiritual mumbo-jumbo that he was in it for. No. More like, it was a different form of shiny trinkets that caught Danny's eyes. Grace's got to inherited that propensity from somewhere.

Steve was looking at the beaded bracelets, thinking of getting on for Gracie – when Danny came over. He had a mischievous look with a shit eating grin, holding out a big arsed shiny black obsidian human skull. Holding it up like a reverend offering.

Steve's jaw dropped. "By the Great Dragon Gods, Danno, why?!" He cried in mock dismayed. It's a skull for crying out loud.

Danny cackled gleefully, happily telling him that, "It's for all the shits you put me through," before putting back the skull where he found them.

Steve snorted, shaking his head. He went back in browsing the shop. It was a short while later that Danny called out to Steve as he intended to make payment.

Steve met Danny halfway to the counter, and came to a halt when he saw Danny's loot.

Danny had indeed bought a black tourmaline dragon-head's crystal. It was huge! Slightly bigger than the size of his palm. European styled sculpture with a single nostril horn and twin horns atop. There's a big Rose Quartz heart, a few crystal spheres of Red Jasper, Tiger's Eye, and Malachite. A raw gemstone of Green Aventurine. And three egg-shaped moonstones.

Steve could feel his cheeks warmed. That eggs was taking his thoughts to other places. More in–lined with what Steve desired it to be. Coincidence? Maybe. He wasn't a hundred percent sure, but he got a hunch that these different stones meant something. On it's own, the meanings were vague and universal. Put it all together and it might hinted and revealed the hidden depth that is his Danny.

Steve just need to figure out what.

. . . . .

The day that Steve decided to make a move and show Danny – his mate – his hoard, he had the day all planned out.

First, Steve took Danny and Grace on an outing with a Laser-Tag Battle game. This game is very popular amongst Dragon-kin, especially adolescent Dragons. In this modern day and age, it's difficult for a dragon to let loose with their predatory instinct. New rules and propriety dulled a dragon's instinct. This was the compromised. A way for them to honed their hunting skills. And the place that they went to was operated by a kindred of theirs. It was a huge complex and the battlefield was not limited. It have many terrain options and has high angles. Danny and Grace were a team, while Steve was going solo.

It didn't surprised anyone that Steve was the stealthy–silent hunter. Where else Danny preferred the direct approached. Throughout the battle royale, Grace was over the moon while they essentially played hide–and–seek. Steve would sneak up on them and he will shoot off-marked at their Danno. And Danny would ended up cursing and cussing at the, "Stupid Neanderthal dragon who like to ninja his way for a heart attack tactic," which caused Grace to giggled in joy and pleasure, while at the same time, Danny was trying to defend Grace, you know, just in case Steve shoot too zealously.

Steve would admit only to himself how much of a turned on seeing his mate defending their hatchling. If he was purring very obviously, no one has to know.

Of course, by the end of that battle, Steve was defeated – purely intentional, mind you. Shot relentlessly by Danny and Grace, head–to–head, and was taken down by Grace who shot him at the centre – albeit lower – mass.

Once the game is done, they go for a flight. Steve had initially wanted to show off and charmed Danny. Instead, he was the one charmed. By Grace.

She was adorable. Once shifted to her dragon form, she immediately took flight – zooming here and there at utmost speed. Giddy to be on air, impatient to soar through the skies. And when dragon–Danny simply looked on in fondness – still on the ground – and content to watched over them, she flew down to her father, flying around Danny's head, chirping and pitching so that he pleased get a move on and let her spread her wings. She nearly blew a tiny fire when Danny only rumbled affectionately. Steve nearly laughed.

They had a nice time flying. All three of them. Steve taught Grace some manoeuvres that he and Mary had done when they were young. Shown her how to swirl and turn effectively and tightly. He even shown her the best spots to breathe fire to an enemy dragon that would incapacitated them for a short time…

Steve could hear the rant–annoyed growling from Danny – no doubt dissing at Steve for corrupting his precious hatchling – even at a distant.

Now, Steve was leading Danny and Grace towards his hoard. And he was a nervous wreck. Showing his soon–to–be mate his hoard, was a revelation in on itself. Dragons were, by design, private creatures. And by showing another dragon, who was not their own brood, blood-kin or Ohana, was a unmistakable giveaway. Already, Steve could felt Danny's heavy gaze as he lead them through the winding hallway.

. . . . .

Steve was right.

Danny ranted up a storm.

Steve looked on at Danny – waving and flailing his hand in a wide arch once his mate realised the full inventory of Steve's hoard. It was endearing and adorable.

"Unbelievable, Steven. I can't believe you. Do you know how dangerous it is? What were you thinking? What? Having grenades is not enough? I saw that grenade launcher. Oh, and don't think I didn't noticed the rocket launcher tuck at the back. With a bazooka!"

Steve's cheeks warmed. Pointing it out like that, it does seemed a bit much. Whoops!

If Danny was already freaking out by the big booms, he would not like the heavy six–barrel machine gun he stored at the house's basement.

"And that pointy spear and shark– toothed war club… – Is that a shark–toothed sword? Nevermind – That better be a replica, you insane dragon. I do not want to answer to our community Alpha, ministry of antiquity or the museum curator on why some of their historical items to be missing! The Kapu natives are going to have your hide!"

Steve can't help rumbled and purred in content. His Danny was here in his cave and nest. Sure, he was raving and haranguing passionately. But his mate was in his hoard and have yet shown any negativity from seeing it – at least from the scent Steve picked up. Steve fervently hoped it's a good sign. "What? What's that look?" Danny's eyes narrowed at Steve's ultimate innocent–face. "Don't give me that doe puppy eyes, Steve McGarrett. It's not working on me. Do not!"

"Danno, Danno!" Grace chirped in happily as she came running in. Showing Danny a book that caught her attention. "Look, Danno. This is an encyclopaedia of Hawaiian lores and legends. A complete and intensive encyclopedia! Did you know that there's a dragon deity called Mo'o? They're the guardian of ponds, pools and stream and they have powers over the weather! This is an old volume. Can we get a new one? I'm sure it's updated. Can we? Please, Danno." Grace begged at his father, jumping on her feet in her excitement.

Danny smiled. His rant and ire at the Neanderthal SuperSeal forgotten. He lay a calming hand over her head, stilling her overexcitement as he said, "Sure, baby. We can hit that gem of a bookstore that we stumbled into before, yeah. There's tons of local books and legends there."

Grace beamed and she went back to the nook where Steve kept his books. Danny turned back to Steve. His rant now done. And he was eyeing Steve pointedly. Face jutted impatiently.

Steve took a deep breath and decided that now is the right time to show Danny the real reason he brought them there. The very reason why Steve tried so hard to entice Danny for months. The cause of why Steve acting weird the whole day – like he was trying to proof to Danny that he was a worthy mate and hunter.

Steve gingerly led Danny to the mini chamber where the nests was situated.

Steve saw first hand, how Danny paused briefly in shocked. Before he slowly went in deeper. Scanning at the room quietly.

Steve would have expected Danny to examined the nests meticulously. His mate would touched the bed – feel the silk sheets, running hands all over the soft duvets as well as a few cushions and pillows. Danny nodded once in satisfaction before he went to a smaller nest. He would do the same – inspect and scrutinised thoroughly at the softness and fluffiest of the pillows and covers. And the colour theme for the nests have to be perfect. Perfect colour and perfect shades. Nothing but the best for Grace.

But that was not what caught his mate's attention.

After a brief and extensive observation, something else's drawn Danny's eyes.

The reason why Steve did not shown Danny his hoard much earlier – even if he had prepared it beforehand – was because he was waiting for the last item that he had commission to arrived and completed his nests and hoard. Said last item was laid in it's own miniature nest. It is the very thing that might make or break his courtship. A symbol of hope for the future. The unmistakable representation for wanting to mate and start a brood with.

Danny was solely focused at the life–sized replica of dragon's eggs. All scaled and real–like. Three in total. Wrapped protectively in its own nest. Their colouring differs with each one. One egg was greenish black. The second was pale gold. The last, but not least, was coppery bronze.

There was more than one meaning with this cluster of eggs, Danny could feel it deep in his instincts. Traditionally, it signifies the number of hatchlings the potential alpha–Drake hoped to have. If that were the case, the eggs all would be of the same colours. A mesh of the parents' colouring. Steve's darker scales mixed with Danny's pale gold scales. However, the three eggs with each different colours could also meant that Steve would willing to start a life just with the three of them. That coppery bronze eggs represented Grace, after all.

It also meant – that Steve didn't dared to hope or dared to ask Danny for more hatchling. Knowing Steve, he didn't think he was worthy. To that silly, Neanderthal of an alpha, Grace was enough for him.

Danny's breath hitched. The importance of why he was in this nest's chamber was deep and profound. It left him breathless and speechless.

Danny turned to Steve, who had stood silently anxious and fidgety at the entrance.

Steve stared deeply into Danny and said solemnly. "If you would have me, I would like to be mated with you from now until the great beyond. You, me and Gracie."

Once Steve said his peace. He stood still. Leaving up to Danny to accept or deny him. He was not one for many words. When he needs to get down to it, he preferred blunt and as concise as possible.

Danny could take his time to decide. He could either decided now or ponder the proposal for a few days – Steve would wait for him. However long it takes. Dragons mate for life. And Danny was meant for Steve and vice versa.

Steve would have no one else but his Danny.

. . . . .

The day Steve opened the door to a nervous Danny holding a big box of his hoard of crystals and gold, as well as Grace carrying her hoard, which was full of charms and jewellery – Steve was ecstatic!

It has been a week since Steve took Danny to the dragon's cavern. Danny has been silence until then and gave no indication of his decision. Steve had been in tiptoeing all the while. To distract himself, Steve had read up the meaning of gemstones and remembered what Danny had bought previously. Steve was right – it all have a meaning. The most telling of all was the three moonstone eggs that Danny bought. It signify new beginnings. Was that a hint? Steve had not dared to hope. But it was difficult not to.

Now here Danny stood. His decision was made.

By bringing over his – and Grace's – hoards with him, Danny has accepted Steve to be his mate. And now, they would merged their nests and consolidate their hoards together.

Steve will forever denied that he had tears in his eyes as he pulled Danny into the house and pulled both Danny and Grace into his arms – growling and purring in happiness.

The chaste and gentle kiss that Danny laid upon his cheek opened a floodgate that Steve has longed for. He has held himself back, holding on by the strictest principles and rigidity he was accustomed to so not to make an unwelcome advanced. He had longed for Danny. Pining after him. And wanting to shower him love and affection that it was agonising. With that kiss, Steve took the permission for what it was – and gave a deep, long, meaningful kiss in return.

Grace was not happy to have a unobstructed view of that act. And remind them of her presence, loudly. She was still squished between them after all. "Eww. Danno. Daddy! I'm still here!" Grace told them, scrunching up her cute nose in good measures.

Danny and Steve grinned in amusement before Danny peppered her with kisses as an apology. Her happy giggles meant all was forgiven.

Steve took the large box that Danny had set aside while they were kissing, as well as Grace smaller box so that he could put them on the table. He would visit the cavern later to put them away with the rest. Grace quickly take off her shoes and put on her slippers, intending to head to the beach, while Danny went into the kitchen. Since it was in the afternoon, he might whipped up some light snacks.

Steve looked into the box when he saw something nearly hidden at one side of the box. He gaped at them incredulously. "Daniel, why is there a bundle of silk neckties in your hoard?"