John let her go and then settled in to wait and see if Sherlock decided to come back. There was a good chance he would, once Bree was at the cave to keep Charlotte company.

Indeed, Sherlock was waiting outside the cave for Bree to come back. Once she was safely inside, he glided back down to the ground and went to check on John.

"Got everything you need?" Bree asked when she saw Charlotte.

"For the moment," Charlotte said, settled into the nest. The remains of a deer were just outside of the nest, mostly-eaten. The cave itself was warm, and the nest even moreso, and the egg was nestled amongst the cloth wrappings it had been transported in to keep it cozy.

John was outside when Sherlock came back.

"I assume all is well with Charlotte and the egg?" he asked the dragon.

"Good." Bree moved back over to her spot and settled in. "So I guess now we just settle in and wait."

"Yes," Sherlock said, settling down. "All is well, and she ate." He looked rather pleased with himself.

Charlotte nodded a bit and settled down as well. She laid her head down near Bree, but the end of her tail curled protectively around the egg.

"Once the egg hatches," she murmured, "we will have to return to the city, yes?"

"Good to hear," John said. He grinned a bit. "I take it courtship is going well, then."

"Yes, but not immediately. It would be best for the little one to stay out here, at least until he or she has learned a few things," Bree said, reaching over and scratching one of Charlotte's eye ridges.

"As well as can be expected," Sherlock said. "She has not yet rejected me." And really, he wasn't expecting to be let into the nest, so things were going well. "What of your own courtship of Bree?"

"Of course," Charlotte said. "I would not dream of unleashing a newborn hatchling on your apartment." Charlotte was quiet for a moment. "However, your apartment would be rather small for three, rather than two."

"Going well, I think," John said, smiling a bit. "I'm doing alright so far."

"I know." Bree shrugged. "I suppose I could look for a new apartment. I'd just have to get into the nearest town for some internet."

Sherlock grumbled. "If you must say 'you think', then you are not doing well," he said. "You need to give her gifts too, John."

"It is my fault you will need a new apartment," Charlotte said. She hesitated for a moment. "Perhaps I might assist in... funding a larger one?" It was only fair, after all.

"Yes, well, my pockets aren't exactly bottomless, Sherlock," John pointed out. "And she is not a dragon, she does not need a constant stream of gifts."

"Perhaps, we'll see what prices are like," Bree agreed. "If I even find a suitable place."

"And how many gifts have you given her?" Sherlock pressed, because there was a big difference between a constant stream of gifts, and any gifts at all.

"I'm sure you will," Charlotte said, closing her eyes and nuzzling Bree a bit.

"I've given her some of that tea she likes," John defended.

Bree smiled and scratched along her jaw, lavishing her with attention.

"John." Sherlock sounded disapproving, and gave him a little look.

Charlotte gave a soft, rumbling sigh and turned her head a bit to give Bree better access. She began to purr at the attention.

"I haven't found anything suitable," John replied. "Really, Sherlock, I'm not neglecting her. My courtship isn't like yours."

Bree grinned and kept up the attention. She always liked having some quality time with Charlotte.

Sherlock grumbled. "If you insist," he said. "But you must find something she likes. Some activity, some present. Something."

Charlotte flopped over, rather like an enormous, scaly cat. She always enjoyed the attention from Bree.

"I'm working on it," John replied. "I would have an easier time of it if your mate wasn't always demanding Bree's presence."

Bree grinned and kept scratching, checking for any loose scales or rocks as she did.

"I will see what I can do to give you two more time," Sherlock said after a moment of consideration. "But only if you use your time."

"Sherlock, we were using our time," John pointed out, exasperated. "Sometimes courtship is just a walk around the lake."

Charlotte purred softly and relaxed there. Her tail still curled around the egg, however.

Sherlock snorted at that, disbelieving. But he did settle down and let John do what he wanted.

Once Sherlock was settled, John went over and gave the dragon a quick once-over, making sure to check for any trouble spots on his scales. Then he just settled in to scratching Sherlock's head and eye-ridges a bit.

Sherlock rumbled his pleasure of that, stretching out a bit and moving to give John better access. Oh, that felt nice.

John smiled and continued showering his dragon with attention. Sherlock deserved it.

Sherlock ended up rolled over on his back in front of John, like a huge cat, vibrating and purring.

John couldn't help but laugh a bit as he continued to scratch Sherlock.

About a week passed in relative peace and quiet. And then a feral dragon spotted the cave on his way north, and decided it would be a good place to spend the night. So he landed in the mouth of the cave, sniffing around.

Sherlock's head whipped around when he caught the scent of an unfamiliar dragon in the area and he growled, the sound vibrating through his chest.

Charlotte also growled, low and threatening, when she smelled the unfamiliar dragon in her cave. She moved in front of her egg protectively and wrapped her tail around it.

The feral crept into the cave, pausing when he noticed some of the shinies on the floor. It was only a little, but it promised much more inside.

"Sherlock?" John asked, wary of the dragon's sudden change in behavior.