How Green Becomes Wood

"Hey boys, can I sit here?" Sloan asked, smiling, "Emily is missing the last week of school, her family is going on some big trip to Maine. They had invited me along, but my mom said no." She glanced at the box Alec was holding, "That's cute. Who is that from? It's really cute packaging." She wanted to ask about the complications, but resisted, because pretty much anytime she asked Xander a personal question, even though the response seemed to have softened, it still felt like he probably didn't love revealing anything, so she had more or less stopped trying. At least in that way, and at least with him. Most of the time she'd just text Alec later to ask.
 
Xander scooted over without answering.

Alec grinned brightly. "Sure! Here, there's plenty of room."

"They couldn't have waited one more week?" Xander grumbled.

"When an opportunity presents itself, you should seize it!" Peter said brightly.

Alec lifted the package slightly. "This is from Mrs. Hollis for Daizi. I don't know what it is or why."

"She didn't tell me, either," Peter admitted, "but knowing my mom, it's likely something really one of a kind. She'd rather get you nothing at all than get something anyone can buy off a shelf. It's made for some interesting Christmases."
 
"I mean what are we really doing this week anyway?" Sloan asked, shrugging, and to Peter said, "I wish my mom was like that. Every Hannukah and birthday she hounds me for a list, she needs a list, and when I say it's hard for me to make a list, she says, 'but you're impossible to shop for, I don't know what you like,' so I always end up just getting, like, clothes," She looked at the twins for a moment, "I'm very grateful, you know, but I wish there was more thought put into it. It's not about the money. I'd rather someone give me an ugly misshapen creature they made me at a pottery class than a pair of expensive earrings, because giving gifts should say, 'I care about you,' not, 'I care about you exactly this many dollars worth.'"
 
Peter shrugged. "Everyone has their strength. My mother, her fault is she can easily get lost in her work and forget the time. She tries, she really does, but she's almost always late to everything if it happens after work. It drives my father bonkers."

"I guess what you could do is keep a list throughout the year," Alec suggested. "When you see something you like, jot it down. Then, when it comes time for gift-giving season, you can give her a list that you've curated."
 
"I suppose that's true. And that's a good idea, Alec. I'll have to start doing that." She stretched, "How about you? How are your foster parents? We've both talked about our folks. Or, our moms in any case. How is Daizi?" She hoped she was being sly and unassuming. But she lived across the street, she saw the woman regularly, and although she'd never ask directly, she had suspicions. And so did her mother.
 
"She's doing fine, I guess," Xander said, puzzled at the rather individual question.

Alec looked at Sloan closely and smiled. "You already know," he accused with a grin. "Or at least you suspect!"

Peter glanced between them, puzzled. "Suspect what?"
 
"What? No, I just, you know, I said something about my mom, and Peter said something about his, so--" She said quickly, eyes a bit widened, but then couldn't refrain herself, and leaning forwards a bit, "Okay yes I suspected but I live across the street," she looked at Xander, "so I really think you can't hold it against me, like I see her all the time, so it's not like I'm trying to pry but I mean come on," She turned back to Alec, "It's true, then? She is? I hope it's going well."

She would not voice it, but living across the street meant she knew a bit more about Daizi's history than she let on, because she had lived there at the time of the stillbirth, and was old enough at the time to understand what had happened. Her mother, who wasn't even all that fond of the Wahid-Dark household, nonetheless brought over a casserole after realizing what had happened, and she had actually kept it quiet so the entire neighborhood wouldn't talk.
 
Alec laughed softly and leaned forward to match her. "No, it's alright, and I can tell you," he paused dramatically, "your suspicions are true! She is carrying a Mini Arcana!"

"I thought it was a Minor Arcana," Xander remarked with a frown.

Alec waved a hand. "Whatever."

Peter glanced between the three. "Wait, she's pregnant?"

Alec nodded, smiling brightly. "She is!"

"That's terrific!" Peter grinned. "That is awesome, really!"

Xander raised a hand. "Cool your jets," he warned. "It's not something she wants spread around. At least not yet."

Peter tipped his head, puzzled. "Why is that?"

"There have been some... some complications, and things haven't always worked out," Alec said quietly. And then he brightened. "But the little one is really healthy this time! And," he dropped to a whisper, "it's a girl."
 
"Oh my gosh, that's so exciting!" Sloan chirped, clasping her hands together, although after expressing her joy, made sure to keep her voice down, "I mean, I don't even really like babies, I think they all look like meatloaf until they're, like, six months old at least, but still! And a little girl, that's so sweet. And I won't tell anyone, I swear, not even Emily." She sighed, and was fully prepared to drop the subject, but then couldn't help but ask, "When is she due? How do you both feel about it? Are you excited? A sister! Do you know--" She waved her hand and settled down, taking a bite of celery to force herself to stop talking.

When she swallowed, she said, "I'm sorry. It's just really awesome. At least, I hope it's exciting and you two aren't dreading it or anything, because then I'd feel like a jerk," She shrugged, "They're just really cool people, I'm happy for them. And for you both, if you're excited, and if not, I totally get it, I did not want my brother. Oh but I love the little monster now, despite him always stealing my stuff. Do you think it'd be okay if I congratulated Mr. Dark?"
 
"I think he'd really appreciate it if you congratulated him, even if he doesn't show it well," Alec told her. "He'd love to know more people are excited! Well, quietly so." He paused, thinking. "She's due, um, in... five months, I think?" He glanced at Xander uncertainly.

Xander shrugged. "I don't know. They keep talking in weeks. I have no idea why, and I don't care, but the tyke's supposed to make her debut before the end of the year."

Peter snorted. "That's a big gap, there, but that is really cool!"

Alec nodded. "I think I'm excited, but I'm not sure yet. I don't really know how to feel, but I know I'm happy for them."

Xander looked down and played with the edge of his lunchbox. "Yeah," he agreed quietly with a hint of a smile. "It's good."
 
"They count in weeks because there's a big difference for the fetus from one week to the next," Sloan explained, "Like, one week, the fetus isn't viable and if it was born then it wouldn't survive, but one week later, and suddenly there's a chance. Babies are counted by weeks, too, at first. Then by month, that's why you always hear, 'oh, they're fourteen months' and not 'they're a year old.' They're like, developing rapidly or whatever. Oh, uh, my cousin is studying to be an OB/GYN doctor, she wants to be like that woman on TikTok and Youtube who got banned in that one school district."


Then she sat back, and more earnestly said, while fiddling with the zipper on her jacket, "It makes sense, that you feel complicated about. It must be weird. I mean, if she's about five months, then that means you must have found out pretty soon after moving in. I bet it was weird for them, too. But I once saw someone say 'getting married because of a baby? Terrible mistake. Getting married and finding out about a baby? A wonderful surprise.' I bet it's kinda like that, or," She thought about it, squinting, "I don't know actually. I don't think they make greeting cards and clichés about that sort of thing. But I will congratulate Mr. Dark. Privately and covertly, like a spy."
 
"Okay, can we please stop talking about this?" Xander demanded, looking a little squeezy. "Seriously. It's lunchtime. We don't need to be talking about that."

Alec leaned closer to Sloan. "He's really sensitive about pregnancy-related things," he whispered. "It's like an allergy. I think he's happy about it, or at least for them, but he doesn't like talking about the middle part."

"My mum told me that when she went into labor, my dad passed out twice before they even got to the hospital," Peter snickered softly. "Of course she made him stay out of the room for the, you know, main event."

"I can still hear you," Xander stated. "You know what? How about I just go get some water and let you talk amongst yourselves for a bit." He stood and strode off quickly. Then had to come back, grab his water bottle, and beat the same hasty retreat.

As soon as Xander walked away, Alec looked a little unsettled. Peter didn't notice as he was watching after Xander.

"Wow, he's got it bad," he commented.
 
"That's totally justified, pregnancy is horrific. Did you know, like, if you get a c-section they literally plop your organs into little trays? Or something like that." Sloan remarked, watching Xander go. When she turned back to the table, she looked at Alec for a moment, eyebrows coming slightly together, and casually took out her phone and sent a text, made eye contact with him and tapped her phone before setting it on the table. The message read, Are you okay? but outloud she said, "And that's crazy your dad kept passing out. I guess my dad was really good, but got really offended when my mom blamed him for all of it. He swears she yelled, 'We should have never taken that trip to Cabo' which... is way more information than I ever wanted."

She then looked at Peter, resting her arms on the table top, "Do you think Mr. Dark will faint? He seems pretty sturdy. And he'd have a long way to fall, but also, you know, his heart really has to pump hard to get blood up to his brain, I bet."
 
Alec looked a little puzzled as he reached for his phone - and had to then to check every pocket before finding it - and checked the message. He glanced at Sloan and gave her a little half-smile before returning the message. I am fine. Thank U. "I think he'll be fine. He always handles everything so calmly! I can't imagine him passing out."

Peter grinned. "I bet he's the type who'll be cool as a melon on the outside, but on the inside is completely flipping out. He might not faint, but he'll need to take a seat. It'll day to be remembered, that's for sure! Hopefully without the screaming."
 
After seeing Alec's message she looked up and subtly nodded at him before putting her phone away, "I wouldn't be surprised if he does freak out on the inside. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's one of those people who always looks super calm but is basically just screaming on the inside most of the time. Like that comic of the dog in the burning café saying, 'This is fine,' but at least it means he can handle pressure. But honestly, like, it's a terrifying thing to prepare for, I don't know how anyone does it. It's why I'm never having biological kids, I don't know how you say, 'Okay, I'm going to the hospital now, see you in 12 to 19 hours,' it's insane. And it's no wonder why, like, in the Sims, it's programed so that the baby's other parent goes into 'pre-parental panic' and just kinda runs around the pregnant sim screaming."
 
"Do they really?" Peter chuckled. "I tried, but I could never really get into the Sims. During the short time I tried to play, I'd build these massive houses, just huge! But then I'd run out of money and couldn't buy any furniture. My Sims would have huge, empty houses and would always be unhappy."

Alec wasn't paying attention. He vaguely knew what their conversation was about, but his eyes were on Xander. Ever since the restaurant, he'd felt unsettled and had clung a little more closely to his brother. For his part, Xander seemed to be restless and dissatisfied with Alec's clinginess. He wouldn't push Alec away, but Alec could sense it. Xander was pulling away, and he didn't know what to do about it.
 
"Oh no, dude, you build the house without the sims in it, furnish it how you like, and then open up the cheat code and use the free real estate cheat. It's so sick, I spend so much time at my save. And my brother plays sometimes just to, like, drown them in a pool. It's a great stress relief."

Again, she looked towards Alec, and even though he told her he was okay, she still felt a bit of concern, and without any knowing of what was up, she said, "Hey, you should probably tell Xander that we're finished talking about pregnancy. I'd hate for him to miss eating the rest of his lunch."
 
Peter looked shocked. "Deliberately drown them? No way, I couldn't do that. They are my babies!" He smiled a little. "Kind of."

"Good idea!" Alec agreed, starting to stand.

Just then, Xander came sauntering around. "I heard cheat codes," he commented languidly.

Alec sat back down. "Is there a cheat code for eating lunch?"

"Nope, I got this," Xander assured him and finished his lunch in a few bites. When Alec pushed the majority of his lunch toward him, he gave his brother a puzzled look. "Not hungry?"

"Not really," Alec admitted.

Xander frowned but took what was offered. "Maybe you have a bug. You'll have to mention it to the professor."

"I will," Alec assured him with a quick smile. "You were saying about the Sims, Sloan?"
 
"It'd suck to get sick this close to the start of summer break! You better take care of yourself man! And, uh, it's probably not that interesting," She replied, waving her hand, "But can I ask something? Why do you both call Mr. Dark 'professor'? I've been dying to know. Do you call all your teachers that or just him?"
 
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"I've wondered about that, too, but I didn't dare ask," Peter admitted, looking on with interest.

Xander looked at Sloan, his expression the perfect amount of slight puzzlement. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said with a frown. "Why would we call any of the teachers 'Professor?' Wouldn't that apply to Daizi more?"

Alec elbowed Xander lightly. To Sloan he said, "It's something that happened when Mr. Dark picked us up and had us come stay with him. Xander called him 'Professor' for some reason, and it just... stuck."

Peter grinned. "Just like that?"

"Would you prefer a long, involved story?" Xander asked blandly.

Peter just laughed and shook his head, letting it go.
 
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