How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi engaged with Alec's excitement as fervently as Dark had, riding expressing how proud and happy she was of and for him. Ivy didn't understand any of it, choosing instead to shriek when she felt she was being ignored unjustly.

When Xander's car pulled in, Dark caught a glimpse of him sitting silent behind the wheel. He knew that look. When his son came inside, he called out from the kitchen, "I am cooking dinner, it will be ready soon."
 
Alec turned his attention to Ivy and picked up another toy, shaking it with her and pretending like they were turning into a band. He bounced where he sat, therefore bouncing her with him.

Xander wandered over to look into the kitchen but made no move to join Dark. In part because he smelled of horse, but also because he didn't feel like being close. "What's for dinner?"
 
Ivy laughed, still waving her rattle, enjoying the bouncing. Daizi couldn't help but laugh at their noises and left the harp to play at the piano, thinking it made more sense musically. It was easier to fit the tune they were playing.

"It is a tuscan pasta and salmon dish," Dark replied, "It is new. You should wash up before dinner, I am sure you are tired."
 
Alec cheered and encouraged Ivy to babble and shake her maracas.

"Sounds good. I'll be back in a minute," Xander said. He headed upstairs for a short shower. He forced himself to keep it short despite his desire to stay in longer and got dressed before heading down. His hand it he'd a little but had actually improved since he had taken the suggestion to wear a glove. The glove meant he couldn't mess with it. He drifted slowly back toward the kitchen, not wanting to go toward the noise that was the music room.
 
"Oh, Ivy, are you singing?" Daizi asked brightly, "You have such a pretty voice, Hummingbird! I don't know, Alec, she may steal your spot in your band!"

"Feel better?" Dark asked. He had one of Xander's favourite drinks already sitting out for him.
 
"That's okay. She's way cuter than me, so she'll draw a huge crowd that will then stay for her talent," Alec teased.

"Yep. I don't smell like sh** anymore, which is bound to make anyone feel better." Xander pointed to the drink. "That for me?"
 
"You can always be her backup singer," Daizi replied, "Sweet Ivy-Qadira can't help she's got all the makings of a star."

Dark nodded, "I thought you might need it. Not everybody's therapy sessions are also workouts."
 
"Absolutely!" Alec grinned. He hugged Ivy gently before releasing her to shake her toys as much as she wanted. "The brightest star of us all.

"Thanks." Xander plopped down in his chair and took a drink. He played with his cup a bit to keep himself from messing with the back of his hand. He felt agitated and restless. Maybe this therapy thing wasn't working. He felt worse. But it did have horses. If he said no to therapy, then what was he supposed to do for horses? That reminded him. "Big John has a pony companion now. It doesn't seem to be working out."
 
Xander shook his head. "The pony just hangs out in the paddock and doesn't go inside unless made to. Big John barely moves from his corner. They were hoping the pony would motivate him to go out, but they could care less about each other."
 
"That is better than aggression," Dark commented, "but if I have learned anything, it is that you need to be complicit in your own rescue. If you are waiting for somebody else to save you, you are going to be waiting a very long time. It is helpful to have someone to support you, but you need to actually want and be willing to change."
 
He caught the cup, managing to keep it from spilling somehow, and glared at it moodily. Dark was right, of course, qnd it was stupid, he knew it was stupid, but he was annoyed at Dark for being right.
 
Dark sighed, washing the measuring cup he had used in the sink, "Nobody likes it. Everyone wishes it was quicker, or easier, or that we reach the point where everything is completely cured and fixed so it is as if nothing ever happened. But, unfortunately, this is what we have instead. So we all need to learn to turn it into something we find workable."
 
Xander opened his mouth to snap something. Instead, he picked up his cup and gulped. No, he wouldn't say it. He wouldn't say it! Dark was just being helpful, and everything he said was true. It was irritating right now, but that didn't make it any less true. Finally, Xander grumbled, "Yeah, but how the hell do you apply that to an old horse?"
 
"Stable stable. Ha-ha," Xander said blandly. "It hasn't exactly been overnight, but I see what you mean." He stood and stated, "Doesn't mean I like watching him slowly die."
 
"I did not mean to make a joke out of it. I forgot the correct word until I said it." Dark replied, almost offended Xander thought he would intentionally make a pun, "There really have not been any improvements with him?"
 
"Not a bit," Xander said, shaking his head. Absently, he started fiddling with the back of his hand again. "I was told it might not be a good idea for me to keep working in that stable, but I figure I might as well see it through to the end unless they ban me."
 
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