How Green Becomes Wood

"A bit," Dark said, downplaying his true feelings as he walked into the kitchen, still carrying Ivy who was happily holding his beard and cooing at him.

When he saw the presents, he paused in surprise, "What have you done? There are so many."
 
"Thank you very much, but I think you do too much for me. I do recognize you will argue to the contrary," He said, before thanking Xander and Daizi for his food.

"You will be loved, Goose, and I mean it as a threat," Daizi teased, hugging him from behind and kissing his cheek. Ivy, still sat in her father's lap, grumbled at the indignity.
 
Alec plopped down in a chair near Dark but not directly next to him, and Xander sat next to him. "I know it is parental duty to look after us, but you go way, way above and beyond your duty, and we want to thank you for that. We want to thank you for not only being a great dad, but for being a volunteer great dad."
 
Smiling in the way he had upstairs, Dark lowered his head for a moment and then, lifting his head said, "It does not feel quite right to accept praise for something which, to me, feels like all I could possibly do, but you are welcome, and I am glad I am someone you want to do so much for."
 
"That's the old age talking," Xander loudly whispered.

Alec snickered and then asked Daizi, "Do you want to go first or last? Yours is probably the best gift here, so maybe you should go last to end on a high note."

"Probably true," Xander agreed, nodding. While the twins did not know exactly what the other had gotten, they had conversed about it enough to know what sort of gift it was. Super special, funny, or whatever.
 
"It is the 'toddlers take naps' talking," Dark said dryly.

"One of you can go before me," Daizi said, "Or Ivy. Habibti, do you want to give Baba his Baba Day Gift?"

"Ah!" Ivy replied, so Daizi found the present 'from' her and handed it to her. Then, she urged her to hand it to Dark.

When Ivy successfully did this, Dark raised his eyebrows and said, "Tifla, did you get Baba a present? Thank you so much, my darling."
 
After unwrapping the box with help from Ivy, who loved getting to tear paper, Dark opened the box and said, "These are beautiful cufflinks."

"They're supposed to be the birthstones of the twins and Ivy," Daizi said, "The jeweler assured me the opal is treated so it'll be more durable. Look on the backside of them."
 
"She has expensive taste," Dark commented, turning them over and then smiling in his little way at the sight of the "Best Baba" engraving. Daizi had it done in Arabic, but it was there for his.

"It's not as expensive as you might think," Daizi assured him, "Do you like it?"

"I love it, thank you so much Ivy-Qadira. You're very sweet," He said, kissing his cheek.
 
"Yeah, we're not topping that," Xander said mildly, admiring the cufflinks.

"Nope, but those are gorgeous," Alec said, nodding. "Xander? You want to go next?"

"Sure," Xander agreed and plunked a wrapped package about the size of a large, flat book in front of Dark.
 
It was a rather flimsy box, the type usually used for clothing, so it was no surprise that the box contained... clothes! Four tank tops in Dark's size, in white, light blue, light green, and violet. In the top left hand corner was the image of a goose's head wearing a top hat, a formal color, and a monocle.
 
Dark picked up the tank tops with a bit of confusion slipping into the lines of his face. He was a bit fond of the goose, but... He glanced at Xander, then at the fabric, trying to determine if it would be rude to say his lavender suit was a one-time thing. Instead, after a beat, he asked, "Where did you get these? They are very interesting."
 
It was nice fabric, 100% cotton and soft, but durable, and amazing for breathing. There were no side seams, either, which made for a cleaner look.

"The Silly Goose Shop," Xander said, straight-faced. "I figured you could use some workout tops. Or under your nicer shirts where no one can see them, and the black buried the goose."

Alec giggled, looking at the shirts. "Fabulous choices in color. I can see how black wouldn't work well."
 
"I am a very serious goose," Dark replied. The fabric was very nice, but he couldn't help but wonder if there could have been a grey. Or at least a navy. "Thank you, they look like they will be very comfortable. You understand if I wear these out, Lex will threaten to assault me for a third time, yes?"
 
Xander snorted. "True. But it's not my fault the shop didn't have something normal line grey. Who doesn't have grey as an option?"

"Me!" Alec said. "I don't! Don't worry, Ba. They aren't that bright. Paired with anything black, I'm sure it will tone them right down!"
 
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