How Green Becomes Wood

"You won't hold our baby?" Daizi asked after licking the sides of her cone, only curious, not offended.

Dark had been quiet, thinking thoughtfully about Daizi's answer, which he knew was emotionally charged because she was carrying the baby, but he had a little bit more distance than she did, "It is not that I want a baby," he said at last, "I mean, it is not that I want to have a baby for the sake of having a baby--I want to be a parent. I want to get to watch and help someone grow. It's why I love having you both so much, you have both grown so much since coming to live with us. Starting from a baby only means more years of that. And also," He looked over at Daizi, his eyes soft and his face lit with that gentle glow he had whenever he was about to do or say something Xander would call sappy, "Were it just me, I think I would be able to just leave it be, but... I get to be a parent with her. And that means getting to see the child we raise together learn to be more like her, in some ways, and that is universally a good thing, and even you both will, one day, inevitably, do or say something which reminds me of her. And that means between the three of you, she will never really die... But more than that, even if all of you acted the opposite of her in every conceivable way, being a parent means working together on something larger than the two of us. We have less time together, but I feel closer. So with that and how parenting means helping someone become better than either of us managed to be?" He shrugged, and looked down at his cup of icecream, while Daizi turned towards him surprised and emotional, "That is why they seem like a blessing, to me anyway."
 
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Xander and Alec glanced at each other, surprised by Dark's answer. They were used to his long, deep, somewhat lecture-like answers, but this one felt a lot more raw than they normally did. What could they say to that? They had no idea how to answer. So they didn't at first, nursing their ice cream for something to do.

"That's quite an answer," Alec finally said, his voice quiet and subdued.
 
"I was in my mid twenties when we first lost a baby," He said, leaning against Daizi's palm as caressed him. Like the twins, she was trying to think of something to say, but unlike them, she was trying not to absolutely bawl, "I have had a lot of time to think."

"I love you, Goose." She murmured, moving much closer to him.

"I love you too. Both of you." A beat. "All of you." He let the moment rest for a moment, and then shifted slightly, knowing everyone was focused on him and the emotions he was sharing. Even though Daizi was quiet, she was very used these moods of his, and she stretched up to kiss his cheek. He was very much the man she fell in love with.
 
The twins sat in absolute silent, unsure of how to react to this raw openness of emotions and feelings about a rather tender subject. What could they say? Change the subject? Try to relate to something they absolutely knew they couldn't relate to? Say something cheesy or cliche? In the end, they said nothing. Xander was happy to say nothing, and Alec tried to think of something, but when nothing came, he didn't try to force it.

At last, several minutes later, Alec said, "Today is a really nice day. Truly lovely." He said it almost emphatically, and he smiled up at the sky, meaning a bit more than just the weather.
 
Daizi found Dark's hand and brought it to her middle, and asked him some question in Arabic, but his slight sigh and the tone of his voice suggested he answered her in the negative. Clearly this didn't daunt her though, because she kissed him again, and wormed her way under his strong arm.

"It is lovely," She agreed. Her icecream was gone, which left her arms free to hug Dark, "I'm really glad you three came to visit me. This has been a really special birthday."
 
Alec smiled and touched her arm briefly. "Good! All birthdays are special, but I think yours is especially special."

"Nah, Da's is more special because he likes to keep it a secret," Xander smirked.

"Only because it has associations!" Alec protested. "The Dark Goddess has the more special birthday because each year she's alive is another year we three - four - get to live in peace and happiness."

"And no small amount of mischief," Xander pointed out, "but his is more special because he shields the Dark Goddess. He is The Shield."

"You can't come up with anything more interesting and less mundane than that?" Alec challenged.

Xander frowned. "Don't diss a perfectly good shield."
 
Both adults were quiet and bemused listening to the debate, still sitting cuddled up together. Dark squinted slightly hearing 'Da's.' It wasn't the first time he had noticed that phrasing. The first time, he thought it was a simple slip of the tongue, but hearing it again... And they called him 'Professor' not 'Dark'... But there was too much going on, it seemed, to really focus on it.

"I do not keep my birthday a secret," He said slowly, finding enough of a lull to interject, "I do not know my actual birthday. There is a difference."

"Oh hush," Daizi whispered, and then more openly, "It's not a contest. I think both our birthday's are special in their own way. And neither of us would be as strong as we are without the other. I think this birthday," she poked the top of her baby bump, "is the most special, at least this year. If it's a debate between myself and Dark, then surely the one who is both of us wins--and she'll be the first person in the world who knows us all as a family together, as if there could be no alternatives."

Dark looked down at his wife, shaking his head, "You cannot tell me to hush and then privilege one of them over the other two."

"Yes I can, it's my birthday, anyway I said I meant for this year," She grinned, "This year I think it's undeniable. Next year it'll be theirs, because next year they turn sixteen, and that's a big deal for Americans," Daizi turned to the twins, "See? The most special birthday isn't set in stone."
 
"Hmm, I suppose that is an acceptable comparison," Alec said slowly, rubbing his chin. "Do you agree, Elder?"

"I agree, Younger," Xander nodded. "This birthday is special because of a lumpy bump. Next years birthday shall be special because of an arbitrary number. Likely the next special birthday shall be because of an amalgamation of blood."

"There is one problem, though. The Professor still hasn't had an extra special birthday," Alec pointed out.

"A fair point. How do you propose to fix that?"

Alec had no answer, so they both turned to Daizi and waited.
 
"Don't call her a lumpy bump!" Daizi exclaimed-- that was the first tested nickname she truly disliked. It wasn't sweet enough for her little baby, "And if we're saying each year we get one most special birthday, and this year it's my hummingbird, and next year it's you two, then the year after that it should be Dark. Because he's 38, and in two years he turns 40. I can be after him, because I'm a year younger."

"Spider did we get old?" He asked, realizing for the first time how close they were to a new decade.

"We've got three kids, so..."
 
Alec glanced at Xander. "How come we have to share an extra special birthday?"

"Do I really have to answer that?" Xander asked dryly.

Alec stuck his tongue out at Xander before addressing Dark and Daizi. "Yes, you're old, but that's okay. You both look very good for your ages. For now."
 
"Dark always looks young to me," Daizi said sweetly, "and... I just figured, because you both turn 16 the same day, so... We can celebrate on different days, but it's not fair one of you gets to celebrate a major birthday a whole year before the other one... And wouldn't it be sad if it is your birthday and you are watching your brother get more attention?"

"When the 'extra special birthdays' are not based on milestones we would be glad to seperate you two, if that is what you prefer," Dark added, intending to resolve it easily.
 
Alec snickered. "No, it's okay, really. I was just being silly. I don't mind sharing with him."

"And I don't mind sharing with him," Xander agreed.

"But sometimes it's nice to at least pretend like we don't get along," Alec told them. "Especially when it's only pretend."

"Is it time for dinner now?" Xander asked hopefully.
 
"Do you think of anything other than food?" Dark asked.

"Did you when you were that age?" Daizi teased, untangling herself and rising slowly to her feet, "Teenagers have a lot of growing to do, it's why they sleep all the time, and you need food and energy to do it."
 
Xander grinned as he stood. "Sure. I think about movement, leather, sleep, snacks, music, cooking, whether I want to be inside or outside, baking, and what is Alec up to now?"

"Nothing," Alec replied, following Xander.

"I meant in general, what are you up to now, not now-now," Xander explained.

"Oh. That makes sense. I think about colors, cohesion, food, the latest book I'm reading, and what to do with my life," Alec said cheerfully.
 
"You're too young to worry about your future," Daizi laughed, "Let that be for now, you don't need those answers, and they're not answers you can find by thinking hard about it."

They walked then to Daizi's favourite restaurant in the city, or at least the one she liked best that wasn't too, too expensive. After the meal, they made their way back to the museum to get into Dark's car and then they drove home. As she often did, Daizi fell asleep on the car home, full, content, and happy.

The rest was needed, but when she came home she was wide awake again, and happily expressed her desire to rest in the living room and just relax the rest of the evening.
 
"Hey, there's a guy on our front porch," Xander pointed out as they pulled into the driveway.

Alec all but plastered himself against the window - leaning over Xander in the process - to see. "He has boxes. Maybe they are for Daizi?"

The young fellow stood, looking relieved to see the car. He had two boxes, one that looked like a cake or pie box and another large one that could have easily held a top hat or two. He waited for Dark before saying, "Are you G. M. Dark or Daisy Wah-hid?" He tried his best with Daizi's name, but he looked young and inexperienced.
 
"Oh," Dark blinked, surprised at seeing someone waiting there, "They must be for her," After parking and getting out of the car, he walked up to the man he said, "I am, and this is Daizi," he gestured, "I can take these from you, if you need me to."

"Wahid," She correctly politely, not offering to take anything because she didn't know the size of them.
 
"Oh, sorry," said the young man, blushing slightly. "Actually, I need someone to sign for the packages." He juggled the boxes, trying to get to his clipboard. Xander rolled his eyes and stepped forward, taking the boxes from him so he could hold out the clipboard to Dark. "I was told either signature would work."

Alec peered curiously at the boxes. "Are they heavy?" he whispered to Xander.

"Kind of, but not really heavy," he whispered back. "Might be a birthday cake and a fancy gift or something."
 
"Should I sign them?" Daizi asked, while Dark took the clipboard and signed for it, "Everyone says my signature is beautiful."

"Your signature, my dear, is a vague squiggle. Here you go, thank you," He handed the clipboard back to the man, and then took one of the boxes from Xander.

"A beautiful vague squiggle," Daizi replied, also thanked the delivery man, and then opened the door to go inside, holding the door for the rest of the family.
 
"The top one smells like chocolate," Alec informed her as he followed Xander and Dark inside.

"Stop snooping and let Daizi look at her own gifts, yeah?" Xander snickered, moving to put the larger box on the counter. As he did so, a small card dislodged and whirled around to the floor.

Alec caught the card and glanced at it. "It's to Dark, not Daizi," he said, holding out the card to Dark. "I tried not to read it."

The card was handwritten, but clearly dictated and written on stock paper from the cake place. The heading held the name of the place in an ostentatious font. It was one of the nicer places in town. Not the nicest, but probably in the top five and mostly known for its custom cakes, pies, brownies, and nearly every other type of baked good imaginable. The card read:

Dark,
This is to you as I know you can read it. Please tell Daizi I did try to control myself, I really did, but I have an unfortunate weakness for cute things. Also, touch the top of the goodie I sent.
Happy Birthday!
Sally
 
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