How Green Becomes Wood

"That's perfect!" Claire said, holding it up against her cow, "I couldn't do blue because it'd blend in too much, but the pink works great!"

Alec smiled, proud of his contribution. "It looks perfect!" He tied the blue bow on his own bear. "This one looks so good." His phone buzzed, and he checked it. "Oh! I have to go. Xander's here to take me to work."

"Oh no!" Claire said, a bit disappointed their time together had ended so quickly, "We just need to type their names into their birth certificates and pay, do you have the time?"

"Yes, I can do that," he assured her. He quickly texted Xander that he would be out in a few and then followed Claire. "Do we get to give them special names?"

"We do, yeah!" Claire said, leading Alec to the decrepit computers, "We type in their name and ours, and then print out the page. We also get one of those awesome cardboard boxes to put them in," She pointed at someone who was leaving with one.

"Oh, that's a nice box! And will come in handy since I'm going straight to work. Unless Xander is willing to take it home for me," Alec mused. He eyed the bear thoughtfully. He had not been expecting to have to name the bear, and naming things in a rush was not his style. He knew he couldn't hem and haw as long as he normally did, so he went with the first thing that came to mind and typed in, "Geisel." It seemed to suit the bear just fine, and as he waited for the page to print, he looked to see what Claire was naming her cow.

"I thought we were choosing B names!" Claire exclaimed, lightly teasing him. Holding her cow up, she looked over it she said, "Beryl. I really like classic names."

Alec blanched, realizing his mistake. "I'm sorry! In all the excitement, and I'm really bad at names, I went with the first thing I thought of: Dr. Suess's real last name. His first name can be... um... Bravely. Bravely Grisel. It's not as good as Beryl. Sorry."

Laughing, Claire teased, "It's okay, but I'll hold it against you next time." This time she did pay for herself without giving Alec a chance to because Build-A-Bear was expensive and she didn't want him to even think she'd expect him spend that much on her for a first date.

Alec relaxed, smiling sheepishly at his mistake, but able to let it go because Claire truly did not seem bothered by it. He was secretly relieved she paid for her own "bear," even though he was willing to. He hadn't been expecting Build-A-Bear expenses on this first date, and while he could cover it, it was harder to do when not expecting it. He paid for his own bear and watched him get boxed up before turning to Claire.

"Can I walk you to the door of the mall?" he asked almost shyly.

"Of course you can," Claire replied, taking his hand again, "I had a really great time with you. I'm sad it's over already."

Alec squeezed her hand gently as they walked. "Me too. I'm sorry it had to end." He glanced at her. "Maybe we could do it again sometime? Not the bears and things, but maybe something else. You and me?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," She replied, looking up at him, "My schedule is pretty clear, and I'd make time if it wasn't."

Alec blushed faintly and smiled. "I'll text you later? Or call?"

They approached the doors, and Alec hesitated. Should he kiss her goodbye? He was not ready for that. It was an appealing thought, but, no, he was not ready. Hug her goodbye? That seemed better. He settled for opening the door for her for now.

"Either," Claire replied, thanking him as she stepped through the door, and then, after a moment's pause as she stood outside the door she said, "Just as long as you don't keep me waiting, okay?"

"I won't," Alec promised. He hesitated a moment longer and then leaned forward, offering an awkward hug. "This was awesome. Thanks."

As awkward as the hug was, it still made Claire's heart flutter and she returned it without hesitation. "I had a really, really great time." She said, grinning at him. He had to be the one to walk away, she thought, because she didn't want it to end, and was certain she lacked the strength to leave first.

"Me too," Alec said, smiling at her. He didn't want to leave. He knew he needed to, but he really didn't want to.

The van pulled up in front, not far from where they were standing, and Xander rolled down the window. "Hey! Let's go or you're gonna be late!" Then he nodded to Claire. "Hey," he greeted her politely.

Alec sighed. "I'll text you tonight. Bye!" Reluctantly, he pulled away and hurried to get in the van.

Claire greeted Xander and said goodbye to Alec all at once, and waited until the van was well out of sight before she could bring herself to walk dreamily to her own car so she could go home.

Alec stared out the window of the van, a sappy smile on his face, and, occasionally, he let out a tiny, happy sigh. Xander considered smacking his forehead against the steering wheel, but he decided against it since that would not be conducive to safe driving. He knew he shouldn't be so irritated: a happy Alec was a good thing! He was glad things had gone so well for Alec! But did he have to be so... Hallmark about it?

When they arrived at the flower shop, Alec got out, but he turned and placed the boxed bear carefully in the passenger seat. "Will you please take this home for me?"

"Can do," Xander agreed. He considered threatening to give the bear to Ivy, but he didn't have the heart to tease his brother like that.

"Thank you! And thank you very much for the ride," Alec told him. He practically skipped to the shop, leaving Xander to his own sighing.

Tristan looked up from ringing up a customer for five long-stemmed roses. "There you are. You are unusually late. Traffic?" Alec normally showed up a few minutes early, and while the occasional five minutes past time did happen, it was nearly fifteen minutes past.

"Sorry, Uncle, but I have discovered something far more important than timeliness, work, or anything else!" Alec sang, hurrying to the back to get his apron.

"Really?" That must be important," Tristan said, making change for the customer.

Alec came back out and gently tugged Tristan so he turned his chair to face him. Then he leaned over and placed his hands on Tristan's shoulders. "Yes, Uncle. There are things in this world that are more important than anything, and while I have known that, I am only just now experiencing it for the first time!" Alec said seriously.

"Oh dear," chuckled the woman at the register. "Young love, I see."

Alec glanced at her and nodded vigorously. "Yes, ma'am, I am in love! And it is glorious!" He released his uncle and spun away with a twirl, singing happy nonsense as he went to attend his usual duties.

"Well. This is new," Tristan said, shaking his head.

"He has it bad," the woman said, amused.

"I'm going to have to keep him in the back to avoid scaring the customers until he comes down from Cloud Nine," Tristan said in amusement.

"Oh, let him be. Young love is such a sweet, beautiful thing to see!" she smiled before taking her leave.

"Beautiful to see, exhausting to deal with," Tristan murmured to himself, but he couldn't help smiling at his nephew.