How Green Becomes Wood

The inside of the Necropolis was much quieter than usual, at least quieter than it ever usually was when Ivy was meant to be awake. These days, the home was usually filled with her laughing, screeching, or crying. Usually, if she was quiet, she was sleeping or getting into trouble.

After a few moments, though, it became clear it wasn't quiet. Dark was murmuring sometimes, but his words weren't clear from the front hallway.

In the living room, he was sitting on the couch reading a book aloud while trying to drink tea. Daizi, with her own mug, was snuggled up with her head on his shoulder. Since it was a rainy day outside and a cozy day inside, Dark still was just wearing a causal, nice quality, sweatshirt... which appeared to be oddly lumpy and stretched out, but he didn't appear bothered.
 
Kiki lay on the couch next to Daizi, stretched out against her leg and purring softly.

"We're home!" Alec called much more quietly than he normally would. He considered skipping the greeting altogether, but he knew that might make them sad.
 
"Welcome home," Dark said, but didn't shut his book. At the same time as Daizi also greeted them, Ivy's face emerged from beneath her father's neckline.

"Ack!" She squeaked, delighted to see him.
 
Ivy squeezed her eyes shut. As a precaution, Dark put one hand over her little body to support her while he leaned forward (privately respecting how Daizi managed this sort of hindrance daily, for months) to set his tea on the table. Ivy had jostled him when she decided to climb in, the exit was not likely to be any more graceful.

"She's been doing this lately. I think she just likes to be close to us, because it's only when she's wanting to cuddle," Daizi explained, taking a sip of her tea.

"I would perhaps advise you tuck your shirt in if you are sitting on the couch with her," Dark told Xander.
 
"Dang it. Babies get all the best cuddles. If I tried anything even close to that, I'm a total creep," Alec grumbled.

Xander patted the top of his head. "There there, you cuddle-deprived creep." To Dark, he said, "Thanks for the advanced warning," as Alec batted at his hand and slapped it away.
 
"Ba, if I ever actually tries something like that with you or Mama, you'd have boxed my ears good," Alec said dryly.

"And you'd deserve it," Xander said.

"No argument, but I'm pretty sure he'd remember it!"
 
"If my teenage son tried to climb underneath my clothes, I think we'd have bigger problems," Daizi pointed out.

"Is it really any weirder than the time you draped your body across my shoulders as though you were a stole?" Dark asked, looking up at Alec, "These things run together."
 
Alec made a face and considered making an Oedipus reference, but decided now might not be the best time. "That was to stop you from doing something, I'm fairly sure. And you have to admit, I'm always in style, meaning you looked very good wearing me as a stole."
 
"I am not sure I did, but neither of us were looking in a mirror." Dark shrugged, wrapping his arms around himself so he could hug his daughter, but only for a moment, because she started wiggling free and he had to mostly prevent her from accidentally punching him in the jaw.

Daizi, meanwhile, took Alec's momentary pause as proof she was correct in pointing out the issue there.
 
"I think she is the worm in his pocket," Daizi laughed, while Ivy briefly climbed out of Dark's shirt. When she emerged, her usually combed hair was staticky and messy, but this was no trouble for a girl her age, so she climbed off the couch---nearly falling, were it not for her father catching her--- and finally ran up to her brothers.

"I blame you for the worms, Xander."
 
"Sorry," Xander said, not sounding particularly remorseful. He leaned over and looked down at Ivy. "Did you find a lot of worms today?"

Kiki woke when Ivy climbed off the couch, and she stretched with a squeaky yawn. She mewed excitedly and slid off the couch, trotting over to Alec. She looked up at him, sleepy but happy.

"Hi, you. Did you just realize I was here?" Alec cooed, picking up Kiki and cuddling her.
 
"You want to go out into the rain?" Xander asked, tolerating Ivy holding his hand surprisingly well. "What do Mama and Baba say? Do Mama and Baba say yes?"

"Do you want to go outside, Kiki?" Alec grinned, looking at his cat. She slow blinked at him, having no idea what he was saying, just happy he was home. He smiled back, pleased to have a pet so happy to see him. He'd been afraid she'd turn into a stereotyped cat and dislike being around him. It was so much fun to watch her grow. She was so Catlike now! Gangly and teenager-like now, but slowly growing out of that phase. No longer a teeny-tiny kitten.
 
Xander patted the top of Ivy's head. "Tomorrow, Mini. We'll go tomorrow." Gently, he pulled away his hand.

"I'd love to colour with you, Ivy, if I'm allowed," Alec offered. "I have to put my stuff away first."
 
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