How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi leaned down and kissed her husband without saying a word before snuggling back down and wrapping her arms around him.

"I don't really know what it'll be like," Cooger said, leaning back on his elbows, "Dark'll have to figure out if this is sustainable. If it's not, and the twins want to come over, it might be us three and Ivy. And you and Tobey, if you want. Or maybe I'll have a big, actual party with all my friends who can stomach it. Who knows. But I'll tell ya. It's a whole year away."
 
"True. I think Toby would like it," Lex agreed. "You'll have to let me know when it gets to that time, but, hey, maybe we can get together before then. Don't need a reason for a party of any size, right?" She paused when a particularly complicated firework went off. "Now that takes some skill!"
 
"Shoot, yeah," Cooger agreed, "That'd be fun. I heard the last party you threw went a little wild, so it's probably for the best I take charge of it, right?" He chuckled, and then blinked at the impressive display, "Shoot. Yeah, I have no idea how they managed that. You gotta appreciate the showmanship."
 
"Gorgeous," Lex said. "I'm a more simple girl myself, I don't need all the flashy stuff, but I appreciate a good show!" She glanced at Cooger. "You heard about that, huh?" She heaved a sigh and turned her eyes back to the skies. "Yeah, but that was family, and they're almost all back in the Blue State. I'm not having that happen again. Still, I won't say no to someone else taking the reigns!"
 
"Yeah, I live next door to your neighbors. 'Course I heard about it. You know, actually, they're going on vacation to Virginia in just over a week, because Daizi has been begging for a beach trip. I don't know why they didn't just go to New Jersey, because it's a bit closer. Dark cited something about seclusion. I don't know. I think he doesn't want to admit he's a bit of a New Yorker at heart and doesn't want to have to compliment New Jersey, and, no offense," he held up two hands, "I kinda get it. I spent about half my childhood there."
 
"I'm surprised at you," Lex smirked. "You look like someone who'd love the Garden State. Come on, admit it. You just hate it because you've never seen the rural areas, right? We got some of the greenest green to have ever greened." She paused and added, "At least, that's what my grandad used to say. I never saw a farm growing up until I left the state." She looked up at a shower of blue and held up her hand, looking through her fingers at the sparkles and how they contrasted. "Are you going with them?"
 
"Look it's the law," Cooger laughed, "and I spent the other half of the year in rural Appalachia, so I'm not sure rural New Jersey would've won me over. I went to school in New York but summered with my Nana in the country. And no, no I'm not going with them. We talked about it, but we decided it's better for them to have their first family vacation just them. So I'm gonna watch their dog and stop by to take care of their rats and spider. Although one of their rats ain't looking so hot. Daizi is pretty upset about it."
 
Lex just laughed at Cooger's declaration of how it was the law and nodded in agreement. "That's handy, having someone ready, willing, and able to come look after the place. I don't think I knew about the rats. That sucks that one's under the weather."
 
"Rats only live two to three years," Cooger said, "and they're known to develop tumors at the end of their lives. I don't think I could ever be a rat owner, it's always a turnover. Apparently they're great pets, though." Cooger explained, scratching his forehead, "I don't know what I'll do when Hank goes. He's an old man."
 
"Mourn him and remember him fondly for years to come," Lex said almost gently. "Then, someday, a new Hank will come. A completely different cat, maybe even a girl, but still a new Hank in a strange way. Someday. When the time is right."
 
"I don't know anyone who likes thinking of the impending loss of a loved one," Lex assured him. She looked over at Dark and Daizi before tipping her head back to look at the sky again. "At least the little one seems okay. Maybe she'll grow up to learn how to make those things."
 
"I think she's probably going to fall asleep, if she's not already." Cooger said, sitting upright to get a better look, "It's probably not too hard to feel cozy and safe when you're so much smaller than your parents. But I think if she grows up to make fireworks her dad won't know what to do with himself. Not that he won't still support her. Honestly, I adore that kid. She's more fun than I expected she'd be."
 
"Babies are adorable, but I am happy that mine's grown up, and all the ones I get to be around I can give back to their parents," Lex chuckled. "Toby's arrival and all that might not have been... you, know, the best, but I wouldn't give up that kid for anything. Still not keen to do it again."
 
"I bet I'd be that way if I accidentally had a kid," Cooger said, "but I'm not torn up I didn't have kids of my own. I've got no desire to have any. Ivy and the boys are great because I just get to do the fun things with them. I don't gotta think about nutrition or school or college funds or nothing like that. I just get to take them fishing and play games. I mean, a few times, when Ivy was brand, brand new I came around to help take care of her so they could get some sleep. So I've earned my walking around with a crying baby at absurd hours stripes, and I've changed some truly horrific diapers. And a few times I've had a real serious conversation with the twins. But I damn well like being able to say, 'ah, no, sorry, I just can't come today.'"
 
"It's one of the best feelings ever to get to have the fun without the responsibility sometimes, ain't it?" Lex grinned at him. She fell silent as the fireworks amped up, seeming to be working toward their grand finale.
 
"And I get to watch my best friends do something they've dreamt of for a long, long time." Cooger agreed, and then sat back to enjoy the grand finale.

The intensity of it woke Ivy again, and she was more difficult to soothe from the intensity, so eventually Daizi decided to just take her inside and wait with her there, which helped a lot. It wasn't like she was missing anything anyway, she had just been listening to explosions without any payoff. When she went inside, Dark slithered down to sit with his boys, putting one arm around Alec's shoulder and kissing him on the head---even high, he knew not to touch Xander.
 
Alec almost jumped in surprise at Dark's kiss but managed to stop himself. He glanced at Dark, amused, and leaned into him, enjoying the contact. Xander watched Dark out of the corner of his eye, suspicious, but relaxed when Dark didn't move to touch him in any way. They didn't bother to even try to say anything with all the booming going on, just waited. Alec did put his hands over his ears when it got too loud, but it didn't take too long to end.

Lex leaned farther back to watch, putting her hands out to prop herself up. She didn't notice the tips of her fingers resting lightly on Cooger's she was so entranced by the bright colors.
 
When Alec leaned into him, Dark wrapped him up in his arms, told him that he loved him, and rested his chin ontop of his head until the fireworks ended.

Cooger felt the touch, and looked over with surprise, but he didn't pull his hand away, although he stared at their two hands together. It was probably just an accident, he told himself. It didn't mean anything. Still, he might've moved in a bit closer, just a little, tiny bit, until the fireworks were over.
 
Alec sighed when the fireworks ended. "That was so pretty!" he said. "And you're alright, aren't you, Baba?" He shifted to look at his father for confirmation.

"That was pretty cool," Xander admitted, trying to downplay his awe at some of the bigger ones. "They look better at Cooger's lake.

Lex sat up and stretched out her neck when the fireworks ended. "That was pretty amazing, but I have to admit, I'm glad it only happens once a year."
 
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