How Green Becomes Wood

"Aw, well it's sweet. I bet he likes it, I think everybody likes having a pet name like that. Although," She paused, and laughed slightly, "It's a bit weird, but only because there's this really good old movie called The Philedelphia Story, like, it's an old movie, from the early 1940s or something, with Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Steward and, like, Cary Grant. And there's this really romantic scene between Stewart and Hepburn, and she keeps calling him professor. But," She took a drink from her water bottle, "Not many people these days have watched really old movies from, like, the early 1940s so I don't think you'll ever run into someone who has that thought."
 
"Oh, I love Hepburn!" Peter said, lighting up. "I've only really seen like two movies of hers, but she is just... oh, she's fabulous."

Alec and Xander looked at Sloan as if she were speaking another langue. "I don't think I know any of those names," Alec admitted.

The bell rang then, and Xander stood, gathering everything up. "I bet we can look them up later."

"It was nice to talk to you again, Sloan," Alec said with a smile as he tidied up his area. "Maybe this summer we can get together some when we aren't spending time with our father."

Xander froze and stared at Alec. Alec paled a littler at what he'd said and looked like he wanted to fall through the floor. What had he just said?!
 
Sloan blinked at them and glanced at Peter, "Your father?" She repeated. Her first thought was it was sweet, and he had accidentally referred to Dark that way, but... That seemed implausible, and it didn't make sense why they'd only hang out with him, and not Daizi too. So it was clearly something--someone--else. But as far as she knew, they didn't have a father.

But, she saw their faces, and after a moment, she took a breath and said, "Sure. Whenever you like we can hang out. Just let me know, I'm only across the street," because if they didn't want to talk about it, she didn't want to force them and hound them with questions.
 
"Yeah, sounds good," Xander said, grabbing Alec's arm and all but scooting him out. "See you later."

Peter turned to Sloan with a puzzled look. "Father?" he repeated, feeling a bit like a parrot. "My mother mentioned a bit of trouble at their house and something about an estranged family member returning, but I thought it was Mr. Dark's family."

Meanwhile, once they were away from the others and lost in the sea of students who would care even if they were listening in, Xander demanded, "Why did you say that?"

"I don't know. I wasn't thinking!" Alec admitted. "It's been hard not to mention it to Peter. His mother knows all about everything, and I think his dad."

"Yeah, but that's no reason to go blabbing it around," Xander scolded. "Besides, it's weird to call him that."

"I know," Alec agreed. "It was just... so easy, and I guess it just slipped out faster than 'Declan, that guy we've been introduced to.'"

"That does have a weird ring to it," Xander agreed. He huffed and shook his head. "Sorry. It was a shock."

"It's okay. I would have done the same."

"Let's just try to get through this day."
 
"Then you know more than I do," Sloan told Peter, "They like you more than me. But I can't imagine how difficult it must be for them now, considering everything... what a difficult few years..." She sighed, crossing her arms. Then she looked down at Peter and asked, "Do you think we could do something for them? You know, show we care?"
 
Peter's brows rose in surprise at the suggestion, but he considered it. "Yeah, that could be fun," he agreed. "What do you have in mind? Or should we reconvene when we aren't about to be late for class?"
 
"That's probably a good idea. I'll think about it, and you think too. I'll text you later about it." She gave him a wave and then hurried to class so she wouldn't be late.

Meanwhile, Dark, on his free period, was actually walking to the principal's office, looking more or less like he always did, but with one hand he was drumming his fingers against his thigh.
 
Peter was on his way to class when he saw Dark, and he turned to meet him. "Hey, marhaban! Tahanina! Sloan guessed and Alec confirmed." He grinned and offered a hand to shake.
 
Dark paused, turning to him, momentarily confused, but then he nearly smiled and shook Peter's hand, "Shukran. But I am surprised you did not already know, you were at the same table as your parents, my wife, and myself while we discussed it."
 
Peter grinned. "I knew, but, to be honest, sir, I'd forgotten. I wanted to give you my personal congratulations. Well, I should probably get to class, but I wanted to stop by and say it again since Sloan kind of helped jangle my memory."
 
He nodded, quietly pleased, "Well, thank you. We are very excited. And yes, go to class. I do not want you to be late on my account." As Peter left, Dark took a breath, and walked into Bernice's office, feeling about as prepared as he could be, and after the meeting, returned to his classroom to go through the rest of the day.
 
The end of school arrived with its usual amount of barely controlled chaos as everyone surged toward the doors and freedom. The line of parent cars moved swift and sure as everyone found their appropriate vehicles. The line for the busses was less enthusiastic. As they headed for said line, Xander stopped short and nudged Alec. Alec followed his gaze and saw Declan standing leaning against a car he didn't recognize. Declan saw them looking and grinned, raising a hand to them.

"What is he doing here?" Alec wondered.

Xander shrugged and walked toward Declan, forcing Alec to follow or be left behind. "Hey, what's up?"

"What's up?" Declan grinned. "What's up is I rented a car so I could give you boys a ride home from school." He patted the hood of the silvery, pristine car. "It's actually cheaper to rent one of these things than it is to buy a motorcycle helmet, and I can't fit both of you on the back of my bike, anyway."

"Really? Cool," Xander said, impressed.

Alec caught his arm as he started to move forward. "I don't know if our foster parents would approve of this," he said quietly. "We should ask."

Declan groaned and rolled his eyes. "Seriously? We've gotten together like a dozen times by now. Don't you know yet whether or not you can trust me to give you a ride home? You're fifteen, not five." He sighed and held up his hands. "But if you really think that's best, I guess I'm not in a position to argue."

Xander tugged the arm Alec held lightly. "Come on, it's just a ride home. It's going to be a lot faster and a lot less smelly than that old bus."

Alec hesitated. "Straight home?"

"Okay, you caught me," Declan said a touch dramatically, "I was thinking maybe we could stop for ice cream. It was my diabolical plan the whole time." Then more seriously, he said, "I get that it's hard to trust me, short stuff, so how about this? The ice cream place is on the way, so we have to pass it anyway. If you decide you don't feel comfortable, we'll keep going, and I'll take you home. If you do feel comfortable, we'll stop and each have a cone. Deal?"

Alec glanced at Xander, who was looking at him hopefully. "Okay," he agreed. It's a deal."

"Great!" Declan stepped to the side and opened the front door. "Who's got shotgun?"

"Me!" Xander stated and got in the front seat.

Alec climbed into the back, buckling up and hugging his backpack to his chest as Declan got in the driver's seat. Declan and Xander chatted as Declan negotiated the chaos that was after-school traffic, but Alec leaned back, watching out the window. He didn't honestly believe Declan would do anything bad, but he couldn't bring himself to trust him. Why was that? Why did Xander - the historically more distrusting of the pair - trust Declan when Alec couldn't? Alec looked forward to the pair as Xander laughed at something Declan said. Maybe it was because for once an adult was giving him attention on his level, something he understood, and something positive. Declan wasn't trying to be an authority figure, nor was he trying to be a buddy-buddy like a fellow teen. No, he was just being himself and offering to let Xander join him. Xander didn't have to worry about Declan scolding him, challenging his choices, or punishing him. Maybe that was the difference. Declan was giving Xander a glimpse of an adult world without consequences. Alec looked back out the world. The trouble was, that world included trying to avoid the consequences he'd earned.

"Alright, here we are!" Declan said cheerfully, pulling into a parking spot in front of a small ice cream parlor. "Everybody out for-"

"I don't want to go in," Alec said abruptly.

Declan paused and turned to look back at Alec, his seatbelt in hand, puzzlement on his face. "You don't want to go in? You mean you want to wait in the car? I don't know about that."

Alec shook his head. "No, I want to go home, please. I do not want ice cream, I want to go home."

"Oh, come on, Alec, it's just ice cream!" Xander huffed in exasperation.

"Yeah, are you sure?" Declan asked.

Panic rose in Alec's chest as he clutched his bag tighter. "Yes, please. I want to go home. Please, take me home." It was all he could do to keep his voice level and not shaking.

Declan sighed and buckled back up. "Alright, I guess it's home. Sorry, Xander, but you both gotta be comfortable. Otherwise, it's no fun, and your foster dad would skin me alive. Possibly literally."

Xander growled in frustration and slumped back in his seat. No one said anything as they drove the rest of the way back to Dark and Daizi's house. Alec felt the guilt gnawing inside. Was he overreacting? Should he have said yes? Should he have at least tried to go along for Xander's sake? He hugged his pack tightly, watching the houses go past. They pulled up in front of Dark and Daizi's house, and Xander started unbuckling.

"Thanks for the ride," Xander said.

"Wait," Alec blurted. When Declan and Xander turned to look back, he said, "If it's not to late... um, maybe you two could go back? If you really want."

Declan and Xander exchanged confused glances. "Are you sure?" Declan asked.

"You want to stay home alone?" Xander asked.

Alec forced a smile as he unbuckled and pushed open the car door. "I'm sure. You two go have fun. I'm just not feeling up to it."

"Alright, if you're sure," Xander said slowly, disconcerted, but he handed Alec his school bag.

Alec watched the pair pull away and went into the house alone. He had homework to do, but he couldn't concentrate. Instead, he ended up dusting the entire house, tidying up, and playing with Enkidu. He didn't know what else to do. Time ticked by, and he prowled about the empty house, his anxiety ticking upward with the second hand. Where was Xander? Why hadn't they gotten back yet? What was keeping them? What on earth were they doing? Should he call someone? No, he mustn't panic. Xander was smart and capable. He wouldn't be taken in easily.

Finally, ten minutes before Dark was usually scheduled to be home, the silver car pulled up in front of the house, and Xander hopped out. He said his goodbyes and sauntered into the house as the car pulled away.

Alec ran to meet him. "Where have you been?" he nearly yelled. "That was a lot more than just ice cream!"

Xander stared at his brother. "Chill!" he told him. "We started out there, but then we were talking about some stuff, and we went out to a couple more places." He headed for the kitchen.

"What places?" Alec demanded, following him.

"A skate park for one," Xander said, getting a drink of water, "and then we hit an old road so Declan could show me what the car could do. It was no big deal. Why are you acting in a frenzy? We just hung out, nothing weird happened."

Alec hugged himself and looked away. "I was scared," he admitted. "I didn't know where you'd gone or what happened or why you weren't coming back. I thought maybe... I don't know."

Xander came over and hugged him. "Alec, it's okay," he assured his brother. "Declan asked if I wanted to go home. I chose to be there, and, guess what, it was a lot more fun just us! You should come with us next time. It was a lot more relaxed, no fights, no arguments, just hanging out."

Alec leaned into the hug and hugged him back. "I'm sorry."

"No, I should have texted you or something," Xander admitted. "I'm sorry. If there's a next time, I'll tell you more."

Alec smiled and nodded. "Thanks."
 
Dark, too, actually came home a bit later than usual, and for once, rather than going upstairs to say it quietly outside their door, he called out, "Hey boys, I am home," and sounded uncharacteristically happy. When he did go upstairs to put his school bag away for the last time until the first week of September, he kept an eye out for the twins, actively wanting to spot them.
 
Alec and Xander had been in their room, but when Dark called out, they had to come out and see. He sounded happy! So very happy.

"Hi, Professor!" Alec grinned. "What's going on?"

Xander hung back a little bit but was no less curious about what was going on.
 
He came over to them, and held up a little brown box, "I stopped by a bakery to pick up the cake I had ordered. You should come downstairs. I hope I ordered something you will like, I could not ask because I wanted the surprise." With that, he turned and went downstairs. It was not something he immediately mentioned, although he would later, but his meeting went really well, and he was excited for that too, but this cake had been ordered weeks ago, and did not want to distract from it.
 
"A cake?" Xander said curiously. "What for?"

"What are we celebrating? What happened?" Alec grinned, following him closely.

"Don't drop it!" Xander warned.

Both had felt a little uncertain, a tiny fear that Dark had somehow known what had happened, but now relief poured through them. Dark's happiness fueled theirs, and now they hurried after him.
 
"I have excellent balance, I used to be a waiter," Dark said, and went and sat it down on the kitchen counter before opening the box. It was a pretty simple round cake, with blue icing and little white frosting roses. The text on the cake read Congratulations on Surviving Freshman Year, "I just thought, you know, you did not have the easiest first year of high school. But you made it through, and passed all of your classes--I asked--so... You deserved something. And you are sophmores, now."
 
Alec and Xander stared down at the cake in shock. It was such a simple thing, such a little gesture... but it wasn't. No, this meant more than if Dark had thrown them a full-on party in the backyard. He'd gotten them a cake marking their achievement. He was celebrating them. Not because they'd gotten the highest grades or done the best in their sports, but because they'd done the best they could and succeeded where it mattered.

Tears pricked Alec's eyes. "Is this really for us?" he asked softly.

Xander reached out tentatively and turned the cake to read it better. "Really?"
 
"Of course it is," He said, "You can have some now if you like. We do not need to wait for Daizi, because, well, it is not like she can read it anyway, so as long as there is a piece left for her she will be satisfied. It is chocolate with strawberry filling."

He turned to fetch a knife to cut it, "And now, when you think about it, you only have three years left of mandatory school. You are practically at the end."
 
"Thanks, Professor," Xander said quietly. He stuck his hands into his pockets and moved away, suddenly feeling guilty. It had been a lot of fun going out with Declan, and he knew he should have told someone, especially Dark. Declan was a surprising amount of fun when he wasn't around Dark and Daizi, but he wouldn't have gotten Xander a cake like this, let alone for him and Alec. None of this felt right. Everything felt off-kilter and confusing.

"I love the flavors you chose!" Alec crooned, watching the cake eagerly. "This is fantastic! What made you think to get this?"
 
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