How Green Becomes Wood

Milo nodded without argument. Alec knew more about Mr. Dark than he did, so he trusted his friend's assertion, although he still couldn't imagine having a child at 25. Sure, there were only five years between 25 and 30, but it seemed like a big difference. Maybe it wasn't. But there was a big difference between 16 and 21, wasn't there? And that was also only five years, too. Still, he couldn't help but ask, purely from curiosity and not argument, "I wonder what he'd think about it. He's the only one of us three with experience." His eyes settled on Alec for a few moments, nearly questioning the 'literally miracle baby' statement, but stopping just short of it.
 
"He'd be offended by the idea that he couldn't keep up with literally anything or anyone and talk about how much he works out to maintain the ability to do anything, anywhere, with anyone," Alec said promptly. "I'm not saying he can't or couldn't, and working out does give him an advantage, just that it's harder."
 
Milo thought about this for awhile, chewing on his sandwich as though he were chewing on Alec's words. Finally, after swallowing, he said, "It's not just physical though, is it? Parenting?"
 
Alec shrugged. "I don't think so, no, but when the kids are little, I think the physical really outclasses the mental. At least, that's what I've seen. And when you're physically spent, it's harder to be mentally ready. Ivy takes up a lot more of the physical efforts than we do as teens, but oh man do we test their mental limits!" He looked a bit sheepish. "We've been working on that, and I think we're better."

Xander sat down next to Alec and glanced between him and Milo. At least it didn't look like they'd been fighting. That was good. "What are we talking about?"
 
Again, Milo listened, eyebrows slightly furrowed, trying to figure out if he agreed with Alec's opinion or not. When Xander sat down, he looked over, "We were discussing when is the right time to have kids, and if Mr. Dark is less able to keep up with your baby sister now than if he was a decade younger."
 
"I think the right time to have kids is when the little buggers decide they want to emerge into your life whether you want them to or not," Xander stated. "Beyond that, I don't think there's a right or wrong time. Maybe gotta consider more as you get older because, you know, you're never going to get younger, but that's up to the individual if you want to be keeping up with a ten-year-old at sixty or whatever."

"Sheer poetry," Alec said blandly.

Xander snorted. "And as for Ba, he's doing just fine. He's old, but not that old."
 
"I guess that's a good point." Milo nodded, finding it hard to argue. "I don't think I want to have kids before I'm 30, that's what started the conversation. I guess I was wondering, I asked Alec this, if it's just the physical self that really matters with keeping up with kids. He says it's what matters more with babies."
 
Xander considered this. "I think so, from what we've seen," he mused, "but the mental is still super important. I think it's like... I don't know, maybe a 30-70 split between mental and physical when they're born, but then as they get older, it shifts to slowly being more of a mental thing, and I guess the demand kind of changes day to day based on what's needed. Plus, you know, one year makes a hell of a lot more difference when they're fist born compared to when they're like five. Still a big difference between five and six, but not as big as zero to one, I think. Or one to two. It's like she's got something new to show us every single day."
 
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense..." Milo replied, although he still didn't think they were answering what he was asking. But he didn't know how to rephrase it, or if maybe he just didn't realize it was a good answer after all. "I do like how much babies learn. Is she, um, walking?"
 
"Not yet, but soon!" Alec said cheerfully.

"She's doing that pull-up thing that I think babies do right before they walk?" Xander said uncertainly, making the motions with his own hands as if he was pulling himself up on a table while being very short. "Hasn't really gotten beyond that yet."
 
Both twins snickered at that.

"She'll be the safest baby possibly ever outside of a royal or something, but, yeah, she is going to cause so much chaos!" Alec grinned.

"Wouldn't be a Wahid if she didn't," Xander stated.

"Or a Dark," Alec agreed.
 
"I think genetics also has a play there, but I guess you have a point," Alec said. "Obviously, she's more like me and is going to stay more like me! It is very clear she likes me best."

"Uh-huh," Xander said in amusement.
 
"Right," Milo replied, sitting back, "Well, you'll see as she grows, I guess."

The rest of the school day went by easily, and Milo carried a small amount of pride that he had a long conversation with two people that didn't make him feel like he was the most awkward, uncharismatic person alive. That was a good, normal conversation. It was good, he was being normal. He was being normal!

While the twins were at school, with Sally's help, Dark and Daizi were able to get the house in order for the the party. Their half of the next day's dinner was ready, so all the twins needed to do was cook their half that evening. Dinner that night, because there was so much else happening, was just leftovers, and soon enough Daizi was sleeping happily, thrilled for the events of the next day, while Dark lay wide awake beside her. His excitement kept him awake like a child on Christmas eve, and his anxiety kept him awake like a bride the night before her meticulously-planned yet precarious wedding. Eventually, he passed into a fitful sleep, and come morning, Daizi was making a light breakfast with her hair damp in a towel.
 
The twins got home later than usual since they had to stop for haircuts, and they'd made one other stop, as well. Xander had only gotten a trim with a little bit of layering to his short/midlength hair, but Alec had gone for a bit more styling for his near-shoulder-length hair. It was shorter now with no trace of blue, and had developed just a hint of a wave now that it was being cared for with good, hydrating products. Both twin's hair gleamed bright red, the kind of red most people thought of for redheads but rarely ever saw.

Xander also carried a garment bag having been convinced to get a new suit for the event. It was still thrifted, but from one of the nicer thrift shops. He didn't want to admit it, but the black suit did look sharp on him and fit better than his older suit.

The twins threw themselves into cooking and baking for the next day, having a lot of fun doing so. There was a lot to do, but not so much that they felt overwhelmed, and they easily got everything done before going down for bed. Neither of them slept well, but they did manage a few hours of fitful rest.

The next morning, both took their showers and cleaned up thoroughly before heading downstairs. both were still in their pajamas, not wanting to get dressed until shortly before leaving in case anything messy happened. With a near-on-year-old, mess was a strong possibility.

"Morning, Mama!" Alec greeted his mother.
 
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