How Green Becomes Wood

"Right now, the plan she will go back to the office when Ivy is only nursing in the mornings and evenings. She may end up going in more regularly before then, at least for specific meetings, but not until after Ivy's birthday." Dark answered, not minding sharing their plans.
 
"That's a good plan. I never got to nurse Toby after the..." Lex realized she was sharing too much and with a man and quickly altered what she was saying. "Daizi has a pretty impressive career, I gotta say. It's pretty cool she can still follow that dream as long as she wants to. And Ivy's birthday is coming up already?" She let out a whistle. "Man! Time flies! I swear just last week you could have stuck her in your pocket she was so little."
 
Dark didn't know where Lex was going with it, but certainly didn't blanch at the notion of breastfeeding. By then, he was more familiar with it than he ever expected he would be. "It matters very much to her." He wanted to explain how Daizi was good at it, producing enough to donate and leaving them with bags in their freezer, because it made him strangely proud, but that wasn't his buisness to share with a neighbor, even one who had gone on at least one date with his brother, "You did not know her when she was truly little. You would be even more shocked if you did: Ivy-Qadira did not even weigh five pounds when she was born."
 
"I cannot even picture that," Lex admitted completely truthfully. She frowned and held out her hands, trying to imagine a baby that weighed so little. She dropped her hands and shook her head. "A real miracle, that one, and I bet I don't even know the half of it." She said it lightly, knowing full well the amount of stuff she didn't share even with friends, let alone a neighbor, even if she had gone on a date with that neighbor's brother. She started to say something to end the conversation and turn back to her work when she remembered and turned back. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask you something. I asked Cooger, and he directed me to you before I could even finish my question." She sounded faintly exasperated but mostly amused.
 
Dark held his hands in about the size he remembered her being, but he was so uncommonly large, it may not have been helpful, "I could hold her almost entirely within one of my hands. It took both of Daizi's." Lex likely wouldn't be able to see it, but his eyes softened at the memory of how little she was, and how closely he held her. Ivy had been so frail then. Now she could do so much. When Lex seemed ready to end the conversation, he was willing to step away, because after talking about her and discussing the cost of the Iraq war with his son, he wanted to go up to the nursery and watch his daughter nap. Because she was safe and healthy. That wasn't always true for her, and it wasn't always true for babies like her. But then Lex paused, and Dark shifted, resting his weight on one hip as he slowly crossed his arms, "And what would Cooger direct you to me for? Things must be truly dire, if he would send you here."
 
"Truly dire," Lex said blandly before saying, "I'm considering getting new ink. I feel I'm in a good place, and I want to celebrate that. Thing is, I'm stumped on what exactly to get. I got as far as 'ink' and Cooger said talk to you, so who knows what his suggestions might have been?"
 
"It is a panther which is exceptionally cool," The word sounded strange coming from his mouth, but it was truly the only way to describe it. After a second of looking at her, he sighed and untucked his shirt, pulling it up and turning to the side showing, amongst his built torso and heavily inked tattoo, hidden amongst his more properly gothic tattoos, but still in the style he had chosen, a relatively small (so it was not distracting or what the eye lingered on) panther climbing up. Then, after he was certain Lex had seen, he dropped his shirt back down, and reiterated, "A sick ass panther. Cooger has one in the more traditional style, although not in the same space."
 
"Ah, that explains so much," Lex said in amusement. "Sadly, I don't think I'm the panther type. I was thinking something more like... a dragon, maybe? You do have some pretty sink ink, and a great artist. Mind giving me his details?"
 
"I also have a dragon," Dark told her, tucking his shirt back in, "I would be glad to send you his information. If you go with him, mention me. Although I would look at his work, if you do not want this particular style, I would look elsewhere. You want an artist who specializes in the style you want on your body. Mine are inspired by blackwork, but I liked colour accents. Not everybody does. I designed most of mine myself, though, my artist and I work closely together."
 
"That is damn impressive," Lex told him. "Yeah, I'll look at his work. I was thinking of something with more color, but I might change my mind. Might not. Anyway, if you could send me his details, I'll look him up. Thanks!" She nodded to the rugs. "I should get back to work. Tell Daizi hi from me and give your dog a pat."
 
"He can do more colour, but he can also give you a recommendation if he feels he is not the best fit for you." Dark told her, taking a look down at the back of his hand and then turning it over to see his palm. He still wished he could get palm tattoos, he just couldn't figure out how to juggle the healing time, and they faded so quickly. "Have fun with your rugs, I will pass your well-wishes to my wife and dog."
 
Lex gave him a cheerful salute and turned to her work, whistling merrily as she did so. She really should give Cooger a call soon. They'd seen each other off and on, but not recently. Maybe eventually she'd get a chance to see his Sick-Ass Panther. The thought brought a smirk to her face, but she soon focused on other things.
 
Dark went back inside and went upstairs to watch Ivy during her nap. She was so peaceful when she slept. Reaching down, he rested one hand on her chest to feel the rise and fall of her chest, just like he did when she was in the NICU, being gentle enough not to wake her. "Sweet girl," he whispered to her in Arabic, "Baba is going to keep you so safe, okay? Baba is going to keep you so safe." Had things been different, maybe she would have been born in his country. She'd have seen those same sands. The pomegranates here never tasted as nice. Maybe one day she'd get to try them.
 
The rest of the school day went well for the twins, and they soon were wrapping up their day and ready to leave. As usual, Alec was taking his time about leaving, this time walking agonizingly slowly with Becky toward the exit while Xander impatiently led the way, stopping several times to wait for them to catch up. Alec finally said bye to Becky, and the pair headed out. Xander, as always, offered Milo a ride, not expecting him to accept, but always available if he changed his mind. Then they headed for home.
 
Like always, Milo refused the ride and instead biked home. When the twins made it home, Dark was just coming downstairs with Ivy against his shoulder. Even though he had really just cited statistics earlier, it was still a bit difficult to talk about with no warning. So it was nice to snuggle with his daughter, who was more than happy to get even more attention. "Welcome home," He said, "How was school?"
 
"Eh, not bad. Workload is getting heavier. Literally," Xander grunted as he set down his backpack.

"Full of drama and consequences and indignities!" Alec moaned dramatically as he walked over to Dark and flopped against him on the opposite side from Ivy. He gave Dark a hug and lightly poked Ivy's arm, remaining leaning up against Dark. "The horror! The humor! The drama! I think it'd make a good Shakespearean novel."

"It'd make a good something, but I don't think Willy would approve," Xander replied.
 
Dark put his free arm around Alec and squeezed him once, "Full of drama? What drama?" It was easy enough to guess Alec was playing things up, but he wanted to at least try to go along with it, while Ivy cooed and grabbed at the top of Alec's head, since while Dark held her, she was above him.
 
Alec grinned and moved so Ivy could hold onto his hair easier. He didn't mind a little hair pulling. Then he returned to his melodramatic state. "Becky has been wronged, dear Father! Wronged, I say! Yet nothing shall ever be done about it!"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Right, you have fun with that." He grabbed his and Alec's backpacks and carried them up the stairs. "I'll be down when he's more sane."
 
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