How Green Becomes Wood

"You did a nice job." Dark replied genuinely, but then crossed his arms and took a step back, "You got up there. Certainly you cam figure out." Of course if they struggled, he'd lift Alec off, but he wanted them to think it was all up to them.
 
"We got ourselves into this situation, we can get ourselves out?" Alec asked with a smirk. "Ever notice how that's mostly said to kids and cats but rarely dogs?"

"I think it's because of a dog's ability to go all puppy-eyed on you," Xander said, carrying Alec toward the living room where they had more space. "I could almost kneel, but I might tip over. How about I just drop you on the couch?"

"That should work!" Alec agreed, bracing himself.
 
When they took even a step nearer to Ivy, she burst into tears, turning her face against her mother, who hurried to comfort her, "I know, it's scary when they're stacked up on each other!"

"Just... be careful," Dark advised frowning, "and do not break the couch."
 
Alec and Xander both nearly made some comment about how if the couch could stand up to the abuse Dark and Daizi had put it through... but they realized what that might imply and quickly turned their minds away from that. Instead, Xander stood next to the couch and lowered himself slowly to one knee. Alec did overbalance to one side, but instead of falling to the ground, he was able to half roll onto the couch, instead.

"Safe!" he cheered from his back. "Now time for cake!"
 
"Come on, then. I think Xander gets the first piece, he put the work into baking it, after all," Daizi said, after giving Ivy a kiss on the head, "See baby? Alec and Xander are normal again, it's okay."
 
"Then you should get the second slice because you put in just as much as me," Xander told Daizi. "Maybe more, so you should get the first slice. Alec third. Ba fourth."

"Alright!" Alec agreed. "But who gets to drizzle on the jam?"
 
"No, you go before me," Daizi told Xander, meaning it. She wanted to argue to let the rest go before her, but she knew that battle was unwinnable.

"Why not all put the jam on out individual slices? I am sure we all prefer different amounts." Dark pointed out.
 
"Alright, I'll go first," Xander relented, "as long as you go second."

"Deal," Alec agreed with Dark and marched into the kitchen. "Cake time!"

"Don't eat it all without us!" Xander called, chasing after him.
 
"I'll go second," Daizi promised, following them all into the kitchen. She handed the bread knife to Xander, "You cut it, I'm holding Ivy. Hummingbird, you can't have any. It's too much sugar for you, but you can have some berries."
 
Xander took great care and precision in cutting the cake and placing it on the plate. He set it aside for himself and then cut equal sizes for everyone else and passed them around. Alec took the jam and swirled it on his and asked Daizi how much she wanted so she wouldn't have to try to juggle Ivy and put jam on a cake piece at the same time. Only when everyone had their piece and was satisfied did Xander take the first bite.

"Nice!" He mumbled around a bite. "Absolutely perfect!"
 
Dark drizzled a little bit of honey over his, in addition to the whipped cream and jam, and upon hearing his idea, Daizi added a bit of honey to her plate as well. "It is really good," She agreed, "We did a good job, Xander. Both on the jam on the cake."

"You really did," Dark agreed, "It is a great skill to know."
 
"I really didn't know how it'd go, it's hard when what you rely on and what I rely on while baking are two different metrics." Daizi said, rather than simply taking the compliment, "I had fun, though. I like baking with you. I like doing anything with you."

"You are making Ivy jealous, Alec," Dark teased, looking at how Ivy clearly wanted to try it and reaching over to pop a slice of strawberry into her mouth.
 
"Went pretty well, I think," Xander remarked. "I guess we should try doing this more often. Maybe even making... soups?" He said it very deliberately, knowing full well what the reply would be.

Alec smirked at Ivy. "All mine! All mine! Eventually you can have some, but for now, it's all mmmmmmmine!"
 
Daizi sat back, resting her hand on her chin, "Soups? Well. Now that depends on the soup. Do you need help learning chicken noodle?"

"Perhaps red lentil," Dark murmured under his breath as he fed Ivy a second strawberry to keep her calm. "My darling girl, very soon you will be a year old, and then you can have cake. You are still learning what foods taste like now."
 
"Well, I've never made chicken noodle before, and red lentil is good, so maybe one of those?" Xander suggested with a smirk.

Alec finished off his cake and shamelessly licked his plate.
 
"Either of those are acceptable, but I can't teach you every soup," Daizi said coolly, knowing what he was getting at but refusing to give an inch.

Dark tried not to make a face at Alec licking his plate and then stood to wash the empty ones. He hadn't done any of the baking, so it felt right to do the clean up.
 
"That'd be a lot of soups to learn and teach, and I'm not that in love with soup," Xander replied. "Just a few special ones would be good."

Alec finished cleaning his plate and then stood up to help Dark clean. He hadn't done much with the baking, either, so it seemed right.
 
"Some very few special soups," Daizi nodded, bouncing Ivy on her knee, "One day I'll teach Ivy a different special soup."

"It is no use, Xander, I have been trying to get that recipe for decades."
 
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