How Green Becomes Wood

As discussed, Daizi carried Ivy in her sling so she stayed cozy and warm. Dark stayed by her side, guiding her with one arm on her back, and the second she shivered he put his coat onto her. As they walked through, Cooger took the time to explain what was good about this plot of land, the plans he had for it, and how busy it was going to be keeping him.
 
Lex listened with interest, asking questions about his plans and even offering a couple of suggestions. She was excited for him and looked forward to see all he would accomplish, even if it was nothing more than a few trails to walk around the woods in. It was a beautiful place to visit. She couldn't imagine living here herself, but she could see why Cooger loved it.
 
When they walked, Dark pointed out certain tree species. Since it was getting darker, Cooger took out a flashlight, but once they were far enough away from the lights and he noticed a good gap in the canopy, he turned it off so they could see the vast multitude of stars, holding Lex's hand.
 
"Oh," Lex breathed. She squeezed Cooger's hand gently and leaned against him, her eyes on the stars. Ah. Now she truly understood how someone could stay out here.

Back at the cabin, the twins and Toby were all laying on the ground near the firepit, their eyes on the stars. They didn't talk. Just looked up at the stars.
 
Dark looked quietly up at the stars but did his best not to gasp. His wife couldn't see them, and he knew both how amazed everyone was because he knew how amazed he was, but he didn't want to remind Daizi of the wonders she missed out on. So while Cooger pulled Lex in closely, Dark put his arms around Daizi's waist, and murmured in her ear about the night bird's calls and the sounds of insects, because they were amazing too, and often overlooked.
 
Lex leaned into Cooger, enjoying the night stars, the sounds of the birds, and the warmth of the man at her back with his arms wrapped around her. Eventually, even with Cooger's warmth, she started shivering. She murmured quietly to Cooger, suggesting that perhaps it was time to head back. The boys would soon be coming to find them if they stayed out too long.
 
Agreeing with her, especially considering Ivy, Cooger and Dark led their lovers back to the cabin, feeling a small bit transformed and feeling ready to warm up.

"We should probably be heading home," Daizi said, rubbing Ivy's back.
 
"Me, too. I've got a lot of work to do tomorrow," Lex agreed. She smiled at Cooger. "This place is pretty amazing."

The twins heard their parents coming and pushed themselves to their feet before waking Toby, who'd dozed off. They took turns brushing each other off and went to greet them.
 
"We have to get Ivy home," Dark said, pulling Cooger aside to say goodbye to him while Ivy went inside to get the diaper bag. After all their goodbyes were made and Ivy was safely in her car seat, there was finally time for a long, peaceful drive home.
 
The twins almost fell asleep on the way home, but managed to stay awake. When they arrived home, they staggered inside, taking in whatever random items needed.

"Best trip ever," Alec said happily as he and Xander headed upstairs and collapsed into bed.
 
"Yeah, that was really nice," Daizi said, carefully extracting Ivy, who was in an extremely deep sleep, from her car seat whose Dark retrieved his prize, "it'll be wonderful when Cooger has really cleaned up the hiking trails."

Finally, then, after Ivy was in her crib, Dark and Daizi were able to change into their pajamas and drop into a deep sleep.
 
The next couple of days went by quietly, for the most part. Sunday, Alec got a haircut that removed the last remnant of his dyed hair and shortened it quite a bit. It was still long enough to be wavy, loose on his neck, and malleable with a touch of product, but on the shorter end of what he normally did. He played with it for most of Sunday until it was time for him to go to Cyr wheel practice. Monday, Emma was highly pleased with his new haircut, and he rode that high for most of the day.

Tuesday... Xander and Emma had another spat, this time in the hallway rather than in the cafeteria. Emma implied that without formal training of some kind, if not an actual college degree, a person could not do much with their life. Xander took umbrage with that. Emma defended herself with some well-made (if not always fully correct) arguments and a few good points. Xander countered with several good and valid points of his own, but his reasoning leaned toward the emotional side, and Emma picked that apart.

Alec stood off to one side, sweating and trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. He genuinely did not want to side against either of them and hated to see them fighting, but to try to step in and mediate felt like he'd have to pick a side. Thankfully, they broke it up by themselves and stormed off in opposite directions before Alec had to make up his mind. He did not feel good about it at all. Not about any of it. Emma did seem to regret fighting with Xander at least a little bit, and she took Alec out for an hour for tea after school and listened and tried to understand the point of the Cyr wheel. She didn't really get it, but she at least made the attempt. She understood the flower business a bit more and talked about that with him until she dropped him off. She even gave him a few ideas he texted Tristan.

Wednesday, after school, they arrived home in their usual noisy fashion, and Alec went to hug his parents and little sister. "No time to chat. I have to go clean my room!" he grinned. "Xander's making me. Bribing me, I think, with a secret!"
 
Dark noticed Alec remove the colour from his hair with a bit of sadness, he liked that he was willing to experiment in that way. Cutting his hair short, too, which Daizi also noticed, seemed like he was losing a bit of the very unique style he had cultivated. Though, as they reminded themselves, style was fluid and allowed to evolve. If he wanted the change, he was more than welcome to it. After Emma and Xander fought, Sloan absolutely sent texts of commiseration to Xander, because it just seemed ridiculous to her.

"Oh, a secret?" Daizi asked, grinning, "You better hurry then!"
 
Alec hugged Daizi briefly as Kiki came bounding down the stairs, fresh from her nap, and jingled her way to Alec, mewing excitedly. "Kiki! Hello, miss dark fluff!" Alec cooed, scooping her up. "Let's go clean my room, okay? It should only take a minute. Were you a good kitty today?"

Kiki purred with every bit of power she had in her furry little body. If she could talk, she would tell him how she'd gotten into the Big Human's bathroom while they were standing under the water and tried to figure out how to get in with them. She couldn't talk, though, so she just purred and lounged in Alec's arms as he carried her upstairs.

Xander came in and took off his shoes and touched the salt before heading into the livingroom. "Everyone survive today?"
 
"I think so," Daizi agreed, while Dark, who came in from the living room following after Ivy looked a bit more perturbed.

"That cat made an attempt to shower with me today," He grumbled, "I am going to have to figure out how to make sure she does not attempt it a second time."
 
Xander paused for a moment to make sure he'd heard what he thought he heard. "Did you just say the cat tried to shower with you?" he asked, caught between bewilderment and amusement. "Hey, Mini. How was your day?" He offered her a fist bump."
 
"Yes." Dark said blandly. "Thankfully she could not find a way in."

Ivy babbled happily at him, returning his fist bump. Smiling, Daizi said, "She wants to know what the surprise for your brother is."
 
"I went to the thrift store, and I've got a couple of belts and a couple of shirts, and to top it off, I found a pair of bell-bottom pants that should fit him perfectly," Xander told her. "That should be enough approved projects to keep things safe. I hope. Mini, you want anything bedazzled?"
 
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