How Green Becomes Wood

Ivy, immediately, began to squeak and bounce at the sight of her brothers, holding out her tiny arms while desperately trying to get their attention.

"You are so jealous, habibti," Daizi chided sweetly, smoothing her daughter's hair.

"Is there anything specific which needs to be done at this meeting, then, since it is the last?" Dark asked, a bit cautiously.
 
Alec dropped his backpack near the stairs and went to Ivy, arms out. "Ivy! Ivy, Ivy, Ivy! I missed you! Come here, you!"

Lance watched Alec in amusement as Xander took a seat near his parents. "Basically, I gotta tell these two that if they want out, here's their chance. Then I gotta do a final home check to make sure you haven't suddenly become a dangerous household overnight. A few quick questions, and then I'm out of your hair."

Xander glanced from his parents to Lance. "This really is the last one?"

"Yep. You can still call me if you ever need anything, but this is your last home visit," Lance told him.
 
Dark helped to pass Ivy up to Alec, and once she was in her brother's arms, she grabbed onto his face to make him look at her, grinning her mostly toothless smile at him.

"Perfect," Daizi nodded, "should Dark and I step away while you tell them they're allowed to dissent?'
 
Alec let Ivy hold his face - not that he had much choice in the moment - and made faces at her. He tried talking with his cheeks squished and ended up making weird noises at her. She was so cute! And possessive.

"That's up to them," Lance replied. "If they want privacy, I'm supposed to enforce that, but if they don't mind you being here, I don't mind."

"I don't care. It's not like my answer would change," Xander said. He glanced toward Alec. "Dorkasaurus over there might change his answer based on who's mashing his face."
 
Giggling, Ivy babbled back at him, holding onto him as tightly as her little hands could. It was a good thing Dark was meticulous about keeping her nails short.

"I do not know if he is listening," Dark commented, watching his son and daughter interact, "Alec, do you want to speak privately or would you rather we stay?"
 
"Huh? Oh, shorry," Alec said, trying to gently pull away long enough to answer. "I don't mind if you stay. My answers won't change either way, either."

"Alright, then." Lance dug out his official pad and pencil and started going down the list. Most of them were questions he asked every other time, and the twins answered quickly and easily. Some were slightly different, like, "Can you see yourself living her permanently?" as well as a couple of other more personal ones, but the twins answered firmly and surely each time. They wanted to stay here forever. They had no fears Dark and Daizi wouldn't want them. They looked forward to a new chapter of life with them. All straightforward.
 
As hard as she tried to fight against it, Daizi couldn't help but grin as her children affirmed all they wanted was to live with he and Dark. The whole process of becoming a family had often been a bit of a nightmare, but it was absolutely worthwhile. How many parents would get to hear their children be so firm about wanting their parents? If she were still pregnant, it would've been enough to make her cry.

Dark had little doubt of what they'd say, and simply sat comfortably as he listened.
 
Lance finished his questions, made a final few notes, and then stood. "Right. Now I need a brief tour to make sure you didn't sneak in a torture chamber, and then we're good."

Alec was letting Ivy play with him again, but he smiled at Lance, pleased beyond measure but trying to restrain himself.

Xander stood. "I can show you around."
 
"I think by now he knows the layout," Daizi joked, only because she wanted to make a joke about how they did recently install a torture chamber, but somehow guessed that still wasn't an acceptable joke to make with their social worker.

"You should let Ivy-Qadira show you around," Dark commented idly, while Ivy gave her brother an happy kiss.
 
"Thank you for that," Alec chuckled, trying to pretend that, while sweet, her sloppy kisses weren't also still vaguely gross. "Ivy, do you want to show him around?" He stood with her and turned her around. "Let's show him all over!"

"Alright, let's do this parade!" Lance agreed willingly.

Alec pranced ahead, leading the way with Ivy, using her to point out any changes to the house, and Xander trailed behind adding any necessary commentary. Lance followed Alec and Ivy unable to hide his amusement as he made the occasional note. They even went outside where Xander indicated his shed, and then they came back inside.

"Everything looks better than good," Lance told them as he finished his notes in the living room. "I can officially pass you in the final adoption proceedings." He gave Dark a wink. "Never doubted for a second, but bureaucracy."
 
Loving the "game" of showing Lance around, Ivy happily babbled and giggled as they went through the house, holding onto her brother. Her parents stayed on the couch, silently celebrating this new milestone in their journey to adopt Alec and Xander.

When Lance returned, Dark rose to his feet, "That is it, then?"
 
"I don't... think so?" Daizi replied, wondering if there was something they should talk about. "I'm just really excited for them to be ours, forever. It's been a really, really long road."
 
"You've had a few more twists than I've seen in most other families," Lance said with a slight chuckle. "But it's been a real pleasure working with you to get this far." He offered Dark his hand first and then Daizi. "Good luck for the days ahead."

"Thanks, Lance, for everything," Alec said with a smile. He shifted Ivy so that he could shake Lance's hand after his parents.

Xander hesitated and then permitted a very fast handshake. "Yeah. Thanks. You've been... not annoying."

Lance laughed at that. "Now there's a high compliment!"
 
"I cannot claim not to be glad it is at its end," Dark said succinctly, shaking Lance's hand. He did like Lance, but he was not particularly affectionate or emotional.

Daizi offered her hand to him, since she couldn't see his gesture, "As happy as I am this is your last professional visit, I'd be lying if I said I won't miss you a little bit, but I'm sure we'll keep in touch, to some extent."
 
Lance chuckled. "Trust me, I'm used to it. I'd be surprised if you weren't happy to see the back of me to some extent." He snapped his fingers when Daizi mentioned keeping in touch. "That reminds me!" He carefully extracted a card from inside his leather vest. It was a little wrinkled but in far better shape than most of the cards he sent their way. "This is for Ivy on her birthday. And I look forward to being at the adoption hearing."

"Thanks, Lance." Alec impulsively hugged him with one arm since he still held Ivy. "You've been the best!"

Lance ruffled his hair. "I gotta get going before you lot make me cry!"
 
Daizi took the card, smiling, "I'll be sure to open it with her when it's actually her birthday, and we'll keep it safe until then. Thank you."

"I did not know you were planning to attend the hearing," Dark said, admittedly pleased to know he would be there, "I can walk you out, I am sure there are other places you need to be."
 
"I go to every hearing I'm involved with, every single one," Lance stated. He moved toward the door and started pulling on his boots. "Thanks for walking me out. I do actually gotta get going to my next stop."
 
"I am looking forward to the hearing," Dark commented, opening the front door, "Or at least, looking forward to its conclusion. I will see you then." He reached out to shake Lance's hand one final time, and then shut the door.

"That was it," Daizi said excitedly once the door was shut, "The very last time we will ever need to deal with a social worker!"

"I hope so."
 
"That's the last time we have to worry about anything like that at all!" Alec cheered, dancing around the coffee table with Ivy. "No more worries or fears! Only time for cheers!"

"I'm sure we'll find time for other fears," Xander snickered, watching him. "You're going to make Ivy dizzy."
 
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