How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi bent down into the hug, thanking her again, and then smoothed her dress when they separated and wiped her eyes, "I will. And if you ever need anything, you can call me too." She did mean it, even though she was at the end of her rope.

After lingering for a few moments, not wanting to interrupt them, Dark knocked on the door, and entered when Daizi gave him permission. He was more cognizant, now, and embarrassed about the state Sally had seen him in. Standing with his back against the wall, he asked, "Do you need any help packing up your things? I have your tea cup, I washed it out."
 
Sally beamed at Dark. "Thank you, you are truly a dear. Daizi, you have quite the black diamond here. Actually, Dark, if you could see what your boys have done with my cups? I can get the rest myself."

She finished packing her basket with the things in the office and started toward the stairs. She only needed to pick up a couple of things she'd left down there. Especially her tea. She'd brought it special from England and was loath to forget it.
 
"I know," Daizi replied, elongating the words just slightly, and then speaking normally but warmly, "I don't know where I'd be without him. He's probably my favourite person in the world."

"Ana ahibuk aydan," Dark mumbled--I love you too--momentarily forgetting Sally spoke Arabic. To her, he said, in English, "Of course," and then left the room to go knock on the twins' door.
 
Sally smiled and shook her head. "Ah, such sweet love! I am afraid we English folk are not so good at expressing our emotions outwardly. It was quite a shock when I met an Australian." She headed down to the kitchen and started picking up the things she'd left behind.

Alec opened the door, cautiously at first, then fully when he saw it was Dark. "Hi," he greeted, one earbud still in and the other dangling over his shoulder.
 
"Hello..." He looked down at Alec for a few moments, really just to see him, and then after realizing what he was doing blinked and said, "Mrs. Hollis sent me to inquire after her teacups. Did you find you enjoy tea after all?"
 
Alec watched Dark watching him, feeling slowly more uncomfortable. Was he in trouble? Then Dark asked his question, and Alec happily fetched the two empty cups, stepping over Xander as he lay stretched out on the floor, grumbling over some small detail work he was doing. "Yes, sir. It was very good!" He offered up the cups to Dark, this time looking at him. "Professor, are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
 
"One day I should make you coffee, real coffee, not like what most people will make you." He shrugged, taking the cups, "I am okay. I just," he looked at Alec again and then beyond him to Xander, "I worry about you both. That is all." He was lying, only partially, because he was worried about them, but could not share more.
 
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Alec smiled and reached out to lightly touch Dark's arm. "We're okay, really. All things must pass, even this. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass." He passed, his eyes sparkling. "Actually, I've never had a kidney stone, but I understand they are awful. I read that saying somewhere and it seemed right."
 
Dark nodded, running his tongue over his teeth, "Good. I do care about you." He was relieved to see the bright look in Alec's eyes, and after taking a breath said, "I also have never had a kidney stone, and hope never to have one. People say it is like childbirth, except you do not get a baby at the end."
 
Alec shuddered and made a face. "Oh, that's horrible. Absolutely horrible!" He sobered and looked up at Dark seriously. "We know you care," he said softly. "You care more than anyone we've ever met before, you and Daizi."

Sally was waiting patiently by the door, shoes on and basket in hand.
 
He inhaled, nearly smiling, and said, "I need to bring these down to Mrs. Hollis." Were he not holding cups, he would squeeze Alec's shoulder, but since he couldn't, he went downstairs and handed the cups over.

"Thank you for coming over," he said to her, "I think you brought a lot of comfort to Daizi today."
 
Sally smiled and tucked the cups into her basket. "Of course. It was my honor. I just hope that you will be able to find your own comfort, too. I'm off! Please do call if you need anything! Oh, and Peter has been wanting a sleep over, so there is that to think about!" She waved her fingers and headed down the walkway to her small silver car.
 
Dark made his goodbyes and then shut the door. He was about to turn and go back upstairs, but then he stopped and locked it, not because of Sally, of course, only because he wanted to firmly shut out the rest of the world. Only then did he go back up, choosing at last to change out of his gym clothes and remove the rubber band from his wrist, since he was much calmer.

Daizi, by chance, met him in the hallway, and was immensely relieved to detect the change in his mood, and so she dragged him to follow her. Shortly after, the sound of her playing at the piano filled the house.
 
The twins finally came out of their room just before supper time, and Xander started slowly pulling things together for dinner. He wasn't certain what it was he was making, just picking up whatever sounded good and putting it on the counter. Alec followed him around the kitchen, looking over his shoulder and watching him work.
 
Dark left Daizi alone again when it was the time he usually prepared supper. She had offered to cook instead of him, because he had a difficult day and she wanted him to take time to rest, but he emphatically refused, saying she needed more rest than him right now. They had gone in circles a few times, each trying to convince the other to take time to relax, but at least Dark had won with the classic, 'for the baby' defense, and she gave in, warning him that was the last time he was able to use that for the rest of the week.

Then, he when he went downstairs he found the twins in the kitchen and said simply, "Oh"
 
Xander and Alec froze in what they were doing - Xander looking speculatively at the different cooking oils and Alec inspecting an onion - and stared back at Dark. Instincts were hard to overcome, and for a moment, they both felt they were in trouble.

Then Xander held up the olive oil and asked more than said, "I think I am making koshari?"
 
He blinked, reorienting himself, and said, "Olive oil is good for it, yes." Then he walked a bit further into the kitchen to get an idea of what exactly they were working with, and pulled a few spices from the cabinet they had forgotten, "Tarot and I were just upstairs debating over who was going to cook dinner tonight."
 
"I think I can," Xander said, looking around the kitchen.

"I can help!" Alec chirped.

Xander looked at his brother. "Riiiiight. Uh, yes, you can help by keeping Daizi out of the kitchen. That would be incredibly helpful."

"Oh, come on, I can help!" Alec spun around his elbow knocking the bottle of red pepper flakes and sending them flying.

Xander lunged forward and caught the bottle. The lid rattled clean off, and a dusting of pepper flakes drifted to the floor. It wasn't as bad as it would be had the bottle hit the floor, but it was still a decent layer.

Alec pointed toward the door. "I'll, uh, I'll go keep Daizi company," he said meekly.
 
"She would like that," Dark said, trying not to stare at the pepper flakes on his lovely clean floor, "and I can help you, Xander, if you need it. It is very good of you," He turned, "both of you, to want to cook for her. She will be very grateful." Then he went into the pantry for the broom and began to sweep the pepper flakes up, a bit sad to see so many go so quickly. He was thankful Enkidu was upstairs with Daizi, because otherwise he knew the dummy would try to eat the pepper flakes and he didn't want to imagine what a catastrophe that would've been.

Upstairs, Daizi had moved to playing her harp, since she had been at her piano to play her husband some of his favourite songs, but now was taking time for her. Occasionally she'd stop and cradle her middle, quietly lamenting how her baby couldn't hear the music yet and wondering if perhaps she could feel the vibrations of the strings.
 
Xander shrugged. "Sure, unless you have something you'd rather be doing." Secretly, he was hoping Dark would stay and help, but he didn't want the other to feel obligated. Cooking just went so much smoother with Dark's help. He moved to start prepping and chopping the onions.

~~

Alec hurried upstairs to get somewhere safer and followed the music to Daizi. He tapped lightly on the door before opening it. "Daizi? It's me. May I keep you company? I can leave you alone if you need some me-time."
 
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