How Green Becomes Wood

"Really?" Daizi asked, drying her hands as she followed them into the living room, "Did they turn out well?"

Beginning with the pictures from Ivy's birthday, Dark pulled them out and began describing them to Daizi, but he didn't get far in the series before he looked up at the twins and said, "These are really good."

"That's what I said!" Alec nodded.

"Even Austin noticed," Xander agreed. "He's got a good eye, that's for sure."

"It is very, very impressive." Dark commented, turning one of the pictures around, it had all three of his children in it, all of them grinning. After explaining what it was to Daizi he said, "I really like this one. I really do."

"You should have that one framed," Alec said, looking at it. "I actually look really good there."

"Yes, you do, shockingly," Xander agreed, earning a nudge. "I'm not too bad, myself. ANd then there's the Mini."

"Mini over all," Alec agreed, nodding.

"I would like to," He told them, "If you are comfortable with that. I know you have felt apprehensive over being photographed before, I would not want to make you uncomfortable."

"I know," Alec said softly, "but that's been... changing. A little. It's nice to have positive memories and things."

"A record that we existed," Xander added. "Don't want to make a habit of it or anything, but maybe one or two... wouldn't be the worst."

"I will find a good frame for it then," Dark said, pleased, setting it aside special as he continued to go through the pictures, the ghost of a smile on his still face. It really looked like everyone really had been enjoying themselves. When he made it to the ones where Ivy had grabbed onto his beard with her frosting-covered hands, his eyebrows knitted together and he slowly turned it around, "Please tell me this is not actually how I looked in that moment."

Alec sucked air through his teeth with a wince and said, "Unfortunately, that is exactly how you looked."

"Fortunately, you looked just like that, possibly even more hilarious," Xander said cheerfully. "It was epic."

It was pretty great," Alec smirked.

He turned the picture back around and rubbed his hands roughly over his face and through his hair, making locks of it stand straight up due to its texture before he smoothed it back down while Daizi patted him sympathetically on the back.

"I had such strong conflicting emotions in that moment," He said, "It was a mental derailment."

"I think the correct term is you suffered and error code and ceased to function," Xander smirked. "Having two big deals happening at the same time tends to do that to a person."

"I think he blue screened," Alec giggled. "It was fabulous! And Ivy said her third word!"

"And you may well believe me when I say I could not ask for better," Dark said earnestly, "Her calling for me by name is deeply moving." He looked through the next few pictures, smiling slightly when he saw the one of himself laughing. Even to him, it was an odd and rare thing to see. He knew as well as anyone how hard it was to get him to laugh, "I do not think she could have chosen a more perfect time to say it first."

"She does have very good timing," Alec said cheerfully. He checked the time. "Oh! I gotta go." He stepped forward and hugged his mother. "I'll see you after work!" Dark got a hug next. "Love you!"

"Have a good day at work, habibi," Daizi replied, hugging him back. Because Dark was sitting, he just leaned slightly into the hug and made a quick goodbye before looking at the pictures. When he made it to the one of Daizi he stared at it silently for a few moments before asking, "It would be weird and inappropriate to offer to pay your friend to take photographs at the renewal, yes?"

"I can ask," Xander replied as Alec hurried to the door. "Tell him he has a business opportunity if he wants it. If he starts stuttering about how he just does it for fun, I can tell him it'll help pay for his time at the dark room place so he can do more with his hobby. As long as you keep posed pictures to a minimum. He doesn't like those."

"I'm going to be late!" Alec called.

"You'll be fine!" Xander called back.

"I would be glad to have none if I could have photographs like these from the event." Dark replied solemnly but didn't force the twins to linger any longer.

"Alright, I'll talk to him about it," Xander promised. "I'm coming! Hold your horses." He went to slip his shoes back on and gave Alec a ride to his job where he arrived five full minutes early despite his fears.

After dropping off Alec, Xander headed out to his therapy session. When he arrived, he took a moment while still in the parking lot to send Milo a text to let him know his parents (mainly Dark) loved the pictures. Would he be interested in a paying gig for pictures with very few posed shots if any? Then he got out, put his phone on silent, and went to see his horse.

They... want to pay me? Milo texted back, knowing he wouldn't get a response yet, but being stunned by that message.

After the twins left, Dark stepped outside to his shed to finish up one of his projects. It didn't take very long, because the last time he worked he was near to completing it, and then, satisfied, he cut a length of ribbon to tie around it. For a few moments, he considered adding a note but ultimately decided against it. Then he walked over to Lex's house and propped the skateboard he had spent his time making for Toby. It'd never replace the one he went all the way to Florida to win, but when the whole incident occurred, he had decided the kid, or technically adult, now, deserved something nice. The skateboard was fairly standard but he painted the bottom (and sealed it, of course---plenty of skateboards he had seen had images on the base). Really, there wasn't much he knew about Toby besides his love of skateboarding, but it was clear by the designs on his skin, he knew how to make cool art, so he just made the bottom look cool and hoped it was sufficient.

After setting it there, he didn't knock on the door or anything, not really wanting notoriety or praise. It was a safe enough neighborhood he didn't need to worry about it getting stolen, Lex or Toby would find it eventually, so after placing it down, he walked home to rejoin his wife.

It was perhaps an hour later that Toby found the skateboard. He came up the walk on one of his other, very worn boards, and when he found the new one waiting there by the board, he stared in bewilderment, hardly daring to hope that it was for him. Cautiously, he walked up to it, looking around to see if anyone was about, and then picked it up. A ribbon and no note. It had to be a gift, right? He double and triple-checked for a note, a card, anything to indicate whether or not it was for him, and, not finding anything, he accepted it had to be for him.

"Mom! Mom, look at this rad board!" he shouted as he opened the door and let himself. "Did you see it? Look at the bottom! It's so cool! Did you buy this?" The door closed as Lex told him to stop yelling and asked him what he was talking about.

By the time Toby found the board, Dark wasn't keeping an eye on it. He wasn't even thinking about the board anymore, because with both twins gone, Daizi finally found the time to say, "Sally wants to loan us the money to repay Saladin for the house."

"What?"

"I promised her I'd talk to you about it. So. I'm talking to you about it."

After Xander's therapy session, he took a moment before moving on to clean the stables to text Milo. Sure. They want to know if you'd be available for the vow renewal. He likes your style and wants to give you what you're worth to record the day.

Alec finished up work as usual, texted Dark he was ready for pickup, and waited patiently.