How Green Becomes Wood

"I know." Dark said tiredly, caressing Ivy's hair as she played with her spoon like it was a toy, completely wide awake. He watched Alec for a few moments, noticing the smaller portion and then squinted up at his face. More than anyone else, Alec loved to hide his problems under his happy facade. Food was his one tell, and his portions were closely monitored. Just now he didn't address it, but having noticed, he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on the teen. "Would you believe it, I do not miss it. Because here," He nodded to Ivy, who had started to hold her spoon just over the tray of her high chair, looking down at one particularly hopeful dog, "at least she takes naps."
 
"Do you get to take naps with her, or is that when you get all the household stuff taken care of?" Alec asked curiously. "What do you do all day when there aren't a bunch of visitors? Or birthdays to plan?"

"I bet it's half and half," Xander remarked, finishing off his breakfast.
 
"With my sleep schedule?" Dark asked blandly, trying to hint at his chronic insomnia without outright saying it because he didn't want Zeinab fussing over him, "It is when I clean, make shopping lists, play with Enkidu. When she is awake I am primarily engaged in occupying her. She has been really enjoying patty cake, lately." He turned to Ivy as she prepared to drop the spoon, "Ivy, no."

She paused, looked at him, then at the spoon, and dropped the spoon anyway.
 
Xander snickered and stood to clean the table. "Good luck with that no, there, Ba. Thanks for breakfast, Amty."

"Yes, it was delicious!" Alec said honestly. He helped Xander clean up, and then they went to get ready to leave. "Tell Mama we said bye! Love you!"

"Later," Xander called as they headed out and to school for another day.
 
"She paused," Dark pointed out, bending down and getting the spoon, "That is more than she would do a month ago. Have a nice day, you too. Study hard."

"Oh I'll miss you all day!" Zeinab sighed, hugging Alec goodbye, "You'll have to tell me all about it when you come home!"

An hour or so after the twins left, Daizi actually came downstairs to eat breakfast instead of continuing to sequester herself like she had the day before. After eating, she spent some time on the floor with Ivy, rolling a ball back and forth with her until the little baby decided she wanted nothing more than to crawl into her Mama's lap. It was sweet, and Daizi sat there with her for as long as she could before having to go upstairs and get dressed for lunch with Ciara.

It was something she was still excited for, otherwise she'd have cancelled it, but she couldn't deny it felt more stressful than it had when she first made the plan.
 
Ciara was actually late. She called to say as much when she could. There was some sort of traffic delay that she had been unable to account for, and that annoyed her greatly as there was very little she disliked more than being late, but some things simply could not be helped. She arrived as promptly as she could and tapped lightly on the door to let Daizi know she'd arrived.
 
Daizi adamantly promised Ciara it was okay, assuring her first of the joke of "Arab Standard Time" (referring to the culture of relaxed time keeping) and then lying and claiming Ivy had been a bit messy and as a result, she had to change her clothes, so actually, the fact Ciara was running late was really helpful.

When Ciara knocked, Amty Zeinab made it to the door first, smiling brightly, "Oh, hello again, Ciara! Daizi told me you were going out to lunch together. It is always so nice, I think, when the, ehm---" She fought for the right word, "girlfriends go out together." She, of course meant it referring to friends-who-are-girls.
 
Ciara smiled crisply at Zeinab, as was her way, and stepped just inside the door. She went no farther, not wanting to remove her shoes and knowing they'd be leaving immediately anyway. "Hello again. It is good to see you. Yes, we are going out for girls' time. It is not something I do often," usually when people at work talked her into it over their lunch break, "but it is enjoyable."
 
"Well I hope you have fun," Zeinab said, stepping aside as Daizi finished making a very sappy goodbye to Ivy and then coming to the front door to put on her shoes and to grab her cane and purse.

"Hello, Ciara, thank you for driving me. You wouldn't believe how upset people got the last time I tried to drive myself," Daizi joked lightly, standing up straight, "Are you ready to go?"
 
It took Ciara just a moment to realize that Daizi was joking about driving. "Ah. Yes. That would be... chaotic," she said uncertainly. "Yes, my car is just down the walkway. Shall I get the door for you?"
 
Daizi called back a goodbye to her husband and aunt, "I think if roads had those rubber things bowling alleys have, I'd do great on the straight bits. And, if you could, it'd be helpful, thank you. The last thing I want to do is accidentally smudge your window."
 
"That would be easily remedied if you did," Ciara assured her. She led the way to her car and opened the door for Daizi. Once she was sure Daizi was settled and her skirt not about to get caught in the door, she closed it and went around.

It was not a terribly long drive to the restaurant, and when they arrived, Ciara opened the door for Daizi and gave her an arm. Ciara was not experienced with guiding someone who was blind, but she did her best in guiding Daizi to an empty table without running her into any chairs.
 
At the restaurant, Daizi did take Ciara's arm while doing her best to hide surprise that it was offered. Ciara was courteous, Daizi knew that, but she also was stand-offish. She could tell Ciara wasn't totally aware of what would be most helpful, so she relied a bit more on her cane than she would with other people in her life, but once they made it to the table, she propped her cane against it so both hands were free and felt both the back rest of the chair and the seat before sitting down.

"I've been looking forward to this," She said, folding up her cane and putting it in her purse, "Is there water on the table?"
 
"Oh, no, it's okay," Daizi replied, holding up one hand, "I just wanted to know if it existed so I don't accidentally knock it over. I can't tell you how often that's happened. Once, in the middle of this incredibly important dinner with my boss and some of the museum directors, I accidentally spilled all over the table, it was mortifying. Although," Daizi chuckled, "If we're ever at a function, and there's someone you absolutely cannot stand, nobody can be angry with me if I accidentally spill red wine on them."
 
Ciara slowly and patiently read over the menu for Daizi. It was not a long one, mostly just sandwiches and soups, but with lots of options for customization. She repeated anything Daizi needed and did her best to make everything as clear as possible. She had just finished when the waitress came for their orders. Ciara asked for a half sandwich and a half bowl of soup with water, choosing one of the simplest sandwiches on option.
 
Daizi listened carefully, occasionally asking a clarifying question, and when the server came, she placed a similar order to Ciara, although her sandwich was a little fancier, including pear and a sweet chili sauce, and instead of water she ordered an Arnold Palmer. After the waitress left, Daizi sat back and asked, "So, how have you been?"
 
"I have been well, thank you," Ciara said. "There is not much that changes in my life on a daily basis. And you? How are you doing? Are you... enjoying... having your family?"
 
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