How Green Becomes Wood

When they exited the ride, they thought briefly that they wished it had lasted a bit longer. But there was nothing to be done, so they made their way back to the twins, hand-in-hand, "Have you recovered?" Dark asked as they came up to them, "I think it is probably just about time to head home."

"Oh are you sure, there's nothing else you'd like to do?" Daizi asked, fully deciding to push herself if it meant he had the time to do everything he wanted to do.

Dark began to say that, yes, he was ready to go, but then he caught sight of a young girl desperately trying, and failing, to win one of the carnival games, "One moment," Dark said, and went over to the same game. He made a quick greeting to her parents, and got them talking just enough that they didn't immediately walk off after deciding there was simply no way for their child to beat the game. Then, quickly, Dark managed to perfectly through the darts at the balloons to earn the highest score.

"Which prize did you want?" Dark asked the girl, who was staring wide eyed. Her parents, surprised by this stranger, nudged their daughter to reply, and she pointed out a large blue narwhal, which Dark had the carnie hand to the child. Then, Dark simply made his goodbyes, and returned to his own family, "Okay," he said, taking Daizi's arm again, "Now I think we can go. Unless you two still have something you want to do."
 
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When Dark went off to win the game for the girl, Alec touched Daizi's arm lightly. "We had a very nice time while waiting for you," he told her. "It's actually kind of fun to people-watch!"

"Until the people start talking to you," Xander snickered, watching Dark work his magic. "Oh, the kid chose the narwhale. Nice."

Upon Dark's return, Alec told him, "I think we're ready. I think we've ridden every ride there is and done most of the games. Maybe we could get some cotton candy on our way out?"

"Huh, we haven't gotten any yet, have we? We totally should. It's like the staple of going to things like this, isn't it?" Xander remarked. "I remember seeing one near the gate, too."
 
"I would love to get some cotton candy," Daizi said and Dark nodded while they went towards the entrance. The line thankfully was short, and soon they were receiving their treat. They only had the classic pink and blue colours. Dark chose pink, so Daizi chose blue. It didn't really matter to her one way or the other, but being able to sample both flavours seemed worth it.

"I'm more tired than I thought I'd be," She sighed, standing off to one side.

"Well..." Dark began to say, but then decided against it, "We will be home soon. It has been a nice day."
 
Alec got pink while Xander got blue, and they teased each other by snatching pieces off each other's piles of spun sugar. They half chased each other around like small kids until they reached the car then dutifully made certain they were not in any way sticky before piling into it and fastening their seat belts. They had to push some of their prizes out of the way and playfully whined to Dark about how they had way too much stuff in the backseat and it was all his fault. They hadn't been on the road for more than five minutes before they both passed out among the stuffed animals, sleeping soundly.
 
For maybe the first time since getting pregnant, Daizi managed to stay awake on the car ride home. Maybe it was the baby bouncing around in her uterus, or the excitement that her husband could finally feel the baby, but even though she was worn out, she stayed completely awake.

Dark, even if he were in the passenger seat and had the ability to sleep, wouldn't. That was, by his estimation, perhaps one of the best days he had experienced in years. Everything went well, he even successfully beat every game, at least the ones that weren't just dumb luck. Even though he knew how they were rigged and had years of practice, sometimes he just had an off day on them. But this wasn't one. And his daughter... Everything was perfect. He hadn't glanced back at the twins, so he didn't know they were sleeping. Daizi had put one of her playlists on shuffle and the music was coming quietly over the speakers.

And he felt at peace with it all, and with the windows slightly rolled down, he sang along.
 
The twins slept solid until they arrived home. Xander woke with a start when the car rolled to a stop, and Alec wasn't far behind. Bleerily, they helped unload the car, sorted out who had what, and then trotted off to their rooms for the night. They left their stuff in the middle of the floor, got ready for bed, and quickly passed out again.

The next morning, Xander came down to the kitchen in an old white sleeveless shirt and worn jeans. He sat down and rested his hed on the table briefly, enjoying the moment of quiet. Yesterday had been quite a day! And, unfortunately, despite their attempts to be safe, the sun had left its mark on his face and a bit on his arms. Not too badly, but enough to be obvious.
 
"Good morning," Dark yawned as he came in shortly after Xander had. Daizi was still upstairs. It seemed she had managed to sleep in a bit, although Dark was uncertain if that meant the baby's jostling had kept her awake all night. For his part, he immediately began to make coffee, "Did you sleep well?"

He knew he needed to make breakfast in a little bit, but with only of the two of them there, well... He could probably get away with drinking a little coffee first, "I hope you had fun yesterday. I thought it was a very nice day."
 
Xander lifted his head and looked at Dark balefully. "Yesterday was totally lit. Like the best day ever. Now you have cursed us to never, ever have a day that good ever again." He rested his head back down. "Massively awesome," he mumbled into the surface. "But maybe I paid for it with this sunburn. Maybe that means we'll get another day like that again someday."
 
"You look hung over. But if the sunburn is bothering you, we have aloe. It will make it hurt less. I am from the desert, I am rather familiar..." He poured his coffee from the dallah (which he always used in favor of a more American coffee machine) into his cup, and looked at Xander while leaning against the counter, "Are you okay? If you are really worried about not having any more good days like that... You will. You did not peak at fifteen."
 
Xander snorted in amusement and forced himself into an upright position. "Nah, logically I know we'll be fine. It's just that little nagging... you know, sensation that maybe you're not allowed to have good days?" He made a face and then winced as the movement pulled on his skin. "It's stupid. Anyway, sorry we kind of spoiled the wheel ride. Turns out, neither of us can remember ever being up that high ever for any reason at all, meaning that was the first time we got a good look at the ground from that high up. Who knew you can be scared of heights only when you have the time to get a good look at it?"
 
"No, you did not spoil it. We were preoccupied..." A slight smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. It was the sort of smile the twins wouldn't have been able to recognize when the twins first met him, "I did not expect it to bother you that much, though. You both survived all of the typical 'scary' rides, so I thought you would have no problem. Maybe next year you will be more prepared," He shrugged, "Or just commit to skipping it. But I do understand quite well the feeling that you are not meant to enjoy yourself and be happy... Like the Universe will smite you for it, because you were always meant to be miserable. But I have not been smote yet."
 
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"We'll see what happens, I guess," Xander said.

Alec came down quietly, wrapped up in his grey jacket. He didn't sit in his usual place, choosing instead to sit a seat away from Xander. He, too, bore a slight cherry tone in his skin and a rather somber expression. He twisted on his seat, fiddling with the cuffs of his jacker.

Xander frowned. "What gives?"

Alec hesitated, casting a furtive glance toward Dark. "It's nothing. Just a thought."

Xander's expression said he wasn't buying it.
 
"Is everything okay, Alec?" Dark asked, drinking a sip of his coffee. That expression wasn't usual for the teen, he wasn't normally a somber kid, "I have aloe, if you need it."

He knew Alec used to wear that jacket constantly but... It felt like it had been a bit since he last really... Noticed it? But today it stuck out to him.
 
"Yes, um, yes, I guess everything is fine," Alec said slowly.

Xander frowned and reached out to tap Alec's calf with his foot. "Come on. Out with it. What's the matter?"

"Well, it's not really a 'matter,'" Alec hedged. He glanced at his brother. "It's the twenty-fourth."

"What about it?" Xander asked blankly. Then the light dawned. "Oh. Right. The twenty-fourth." He hesitated uncertainly. "I guess... we should... do something. I dunno. What's the protocol?"

Alec shrugged. "Flowers?" he suggested half-heartedly.
 
"What is the 24th?" Dark asked, finally coming and sitting down with them, rather than remaining standing by the counter. By their somber expressions and the suggestion of flowers, he slowly realized if he could not guess at what the day was, he probably could guess at who it was related to.

He set his coffee cup down, "I can take you, if you like, to the cemetery. I would stay in the car so you could have time alone."
 
Xander nodded awkwardly. "That'd be nice. Sorry, we don't mean to be downers on a good day, it's just..."

"It's our mum's birthday," Alec said quietly. "She always made herself a strawberry cake from the box mix and would put real strawberries on top."

Xander gave a little half smile. "Then picked them off first and dip them in the frosting. I could try making one of those today. Box cakes are easy enough."

"She would like the flowers."
 
Dark shook his head, "No, do not apologize. It is your mother's birthday, you are able to feel whatever you need to feel. And we can go to the store to get the box mix and the strawberries. And the flowers, unless you would rather cut from the garden. Did she have a favourite? Larkspurs are July's birth flower..."

He wanted to help, but also didn't know where the line into overstepping was. So, he took another sip, and then added, "Whatever you want, or need, to do, Daizi and I will help you with. Or leave you to your own devices if you prefer that. Just let us know."
 
Xander and Alec exchanged uncertain glances.

"I don't know," Alec said slowly. "I don't think I ever noticed or asked.

Xander shook his head. "I didn't, either." He glanced at Dark. "I don't think we know what to do. Or what people are supposed to do."

"Is there a thing people usually do on occasions like this?" Alec asked. "Are the flowers enough?"
 
"I do not think there is a code of law dictating what you need to do or not do. I do not do anything for my parents' birthdays, but that is to be expected... Daizi lights a candle for her mother when she remembers, but her mother has been dead her entire life, so most years she forgets. I think her father says a prayer... There is no wrong thing. Unless your mother is more materialistic than you have made her out to be, I doubt she will be upset with what you decide on."

"On my brother's birthday I still listen to his favourite music. And I make his favourite dinner." Daizi said from the doorway. She had come downstairs while the conversation was already underway, and had been listening quietly, "What did she like? You can always call your aunt... We never met your mother, although I wish I had, so we only know what you've told us about her."
 
"I like the idea of calling Aunt Ciara," Alec said with a little smile. He sat up a bit straighter. "Maybe she can come some evening soon, and we can have a little birthday party."

Xander frowned. "You think she would? I mean, she's skipped every other birthday."

Alec shrugged. "Maybe, but I have a feeling she regrets it. It doesn't have to be big. Just a little thing."

"Yeah, alright," Xander agreed. "Today, we take our mum flowers and have a small cake in her honor. We can call Aunt Ciara and ask her if she can come... next weekend, maybe? A weekday night might not work for her."

"True. It seems like she works a pretty demanding job," Alec agreed. He looked at Dark. "Do you think that would be okay? At least this year?"
 
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