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His baby was missing.
He had to find his baby! The little one would be safe in the nest with his mate. His mate tried to leave the nest at first, but after he nudged her back a few times, she understood she was safe where he could guard her. He needed his family in his nest.
He flew over the trees into a cluster of tall caves that smelled of humans. He roared as he flew between the oddly shaped caves. His wings bumped into large, glowing rocks that carried humans inside their bellies, but he didn’t let it slow him down.
He followed the scent of his brood until he finally found him! There, standing outside one of the caves, was his baby! He stopped in front of his little one and rumbled.
Come! Come, little one. It is not safe! Must go to the nest. The nest is safe!
His child spoke, but he did not understand. He lay on his stomach, bowing his head so he could look into his eyes, careful not to hurt his baby with his horns. He chirped this time, calling for his young to follow.
When he didn’t, he huffed hot air into his face. Fine! He’d take his baby to the nest himself. Careful not to hurt his fledgling, he gripped the back of his coverings, making sure his sharp teeth never touched his skin. Scruffed like a kitten, the dragon picked up his young and flew off to the nest.
But his baby tried to leave! He was faster than his mate! His little one reached the trees before he scuffed him again, then trotted back to plop him into the nest.
Stay. Safe. Baby.
He curled his body around his family. As long as he could see them, he knew they were safe. Finally, they seemed to realize this, too, and settled against his golden scales, no longer trying to leave.
Someone was missing. His little one’s little one. But he could not go find the hatchling, or his baby would leave! Never again! He would never leave his baby again! So even though a piece of his heart felt missing, he resolved himself to the ache and lay his snout beneath his tail to sleep.
Regina was laughing so hard she was bent over from the effort.
She’d been laughing for five minutes. Every time she tried to stop, she’d look up and start again.
“This isn’t funny.” Neal whisper-growled from where he was currently blocked on all sides by a dragon the size of a house.
Regina managed to gasp out a response between laughs. “The Dark One, the most feared sorcerer in the entire realm, is turned into a giant golden dragon. Instead of sowing mass destruction and death, he steals fluffy blankets and pillows to build a nest for his family and then takes a nap!”
Belle smiled at her husband’s sleeping form, stroking his golden scales. She could see that a few black scales, like his eyes, were scattered among the golden ones. When the sun hit just right, he looked like a sparkling star.
“I think it’s very sweet.” She was worried at first, but Rumple only grumbled like a cat when she tried to leave. Even when not in his right mind, he recognized his family, and keeping them safe was his priority. Others might be surprised, but she wasn’t. His loved ones had always mattered most.
Emma threw her hands in the air. “Sure! Gold’s a dragon now, guarding his hoard. Why not?”
“Mom! Mom! I found it!” Henry yelled as he burst into the clearing, an old leather book tucked under his arm.
Rumplestiltskin’s head snapped up, and his black eyes followed Henry as he approached. Before Henry could show his moms the book, Rumple lunged and grabbed him by the hoodie.
“Henry!” Emma and Regina shouted as the child was gently placed in the nest. The golden dragon sniffed each of their heads, then nuzzled them one by one. A loud rumble came from his chest, making Belle laugh.
“Yes, Rumple, all your family’s safe now.”
He laid his head on top of his front paws, closing his eyes.
“He’s happy,” Henry said, wrapped in Baelfire’s arms.
Bae looked at his transformed father with bittersweet longing. “Yes, he was always happiest when with family.”
Emma turned to Regina, her voice edged with panic. “Enough games, Regina. We need to turn him back.”
Regina, who had refused to help earlier, nodded. “You have any bright ideas?”
Henry raised the book still in his arms. “I found the spell in one of Grandpa’s books! It says, ‘Thou who art changed will revert to thy natural state under the pale sun’s light.’ I think it means he’ll change back once the moon’s out!”
Neal groaned, “That’s hours away!”
Belle patted her stepson on the shoulder. “We may as well get comfy, then. Henry, would you like to read us your book?”
The littler one came to him!
He waited patiently until the hatchling was close enough for him to grab without any of the others, who smelled like clanmates but not quite family, getting in his way.
He checked on each one of them.
His mate.
His baby.
His hatchling.
His family was safe in the nest, protected within his scales. As long as he could see them, he could never lose them.
Never again.
He’s not sure why it feels like he’s lost them before. He can’t remember, but he knows he would burn the world to keep them his.
Everything was finally right. Even the clanmates stopped smelling of adrenaline as they sat to listen to the youngest.
He wished he could understand the hatchling, but that’s okay. They were safe and happy, and that’s all that mattered.
He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep to the sound of his hatchling rumbling to his mate and his baby. It sounded perfect against his own deeper, happy purr.