How Green Becomes Wood

"No," Dark said, more firmly, as he followed Alec inside "You got home late. And when you came home, we went straight to the hospital." Daizi he would text and tell the truth to, but Saladin didn't need to know he hadn't rushed back to the hospital as soon as his other kids were in the car, "and I am certain he believes that of me, too."
 
The connection clicked in Alec's brain, and he nodded quickly. "Very late. We stopped to chat and had ice cream. It was highly improper of us considering that meant we kept you waiting."

"Absolutely," Xander agreed. He headed for the kitchen. "What'cha eating? And drinking?"

"Not to be offensive, but you should probably take a shower one of these weeks," Alec added.
 
"I have showered at the hospital," Dark replied, a bit indignantly, "I have to bend in half, but I have showered. And it was, what, last Sunday when I showered here? Monday?" He paused, and looked at Alec, "Do I seem like I have not showered?"
 
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"Maybe it's just the exhaustion," Alec said apologetically.


Xander knocked on the counter to get their attention. "Food? Drinks? This bartender ain't paid to stand around ignored, ya know."
 
Dark turned, holding up his hands, "I am fine with anything, make what inspires you. We are having Sebou later this evening, there will be lamb and moghat and so we cannot eat too much or else the aunties will have our heads on pikes if we are too full."
 
"What inspires me?" Xander repeated in confusion. "Right... Sandwiches it is." He turned and started getting out the stuff to make a full-works sandwich for Dark. He made one for him and Alec to split and got water for all three.

"How did Ivy do today?" Alec asked.
 
"She is doing well" Dark replied, his eyes lighting up. Just simple fact she was there and alive felt so momentous that, had she miraculously began to grin and laugh and play, Dark was certain it wouldn't have brought him and more joy than he felt watching her sleep, "Her BP has not dropped yet today. At least, not significantly. She still cries when Saladin holds her, but she likes aunts, I think. One of the nurses, when she saw Ivy immediately begin to cry when he picked her up, said she thinks it is because he is the only person she has met with only a mustache. I think--Well. Ivy is my daughter."
 
"She feels Grandpa Sal's disdain for you radiate through his whole being and refuses to be held by such a man," Xander said, wagging his fingers dramatically. He handed out sandwiches and water and plunked down to eat.

"Maybe she doesn't like how he smells," Alec offered. "Maybe she'll come around eventually."
 
A little subdued smirk crossed Dark's face, "I think he would spasm if he was called 'Grandpa Sal.' I am sure eventually she will allow him, and he does not seem so bothered. Babies are weird." He picked up a sandwich and took a bite or two, "She likes me, though. She quiets really quickly when I pick her up."
 
"That's because she's half you and she knows it," Alec told him.

Xander shuddered. "That's just weird. Eat your food. I know you aren't going to want to eat much later."

Alec sighed but did as he was told. Soon, his and Xander's sandwiches were gone, and both were looking at Dark expectantly.
 
Dark didn't shudder at Alec's comment, but he also didn't quite know how to respond to it. It was true, and in some ways it was a pleasant thought, but in others... He finished his sandwich, trying to figure out what he was feeling in that moment. Really, he needed to call his therapist. And make sure Daizi called hers. Both professionals had been alerted their clients had a baby early, but hadn't heard much else since. And yes, they both normally had two sessions a month, but it was hard in the NICU with an unwell newborn.

His brow furrowed, following this chain of thought. Maybe Daizi's would be willing to visit the hospital? Do the session there? Then he could give her privacy and go home and maybe clean up a bit. His bedroom was still a wreck from the birth. He needed to reassemble it, make it feel normal again. The session he needed he could do in the office like normal. Well, it'd be necessary: Daizi wouldn't be able to just, leave the room for the hour. Well, she could, but--The twins were staring at him, "The sandwich is very good. Thank you, Xander. Alec, you have to at least eat a little bit. Enough so the aunts do not think you do not like their cooking. And we are all required to drink the moghat."
 
Dark looked lost in his thoughts. Alec hoped they were happy thoughts, but he doubted it. He hoped they were on the lower end of worrying. It probably had something to do with Daizi and Ivy and maybe Daizi's family. He wasn't sure what else might be plaguing Dark's mind. He almost jumped when Dark finally spoke. He nodded quickly. "I'll have something, I promise," he assured Dark.

"What's... moghat?" Xander asked, mispronouncing it a little. "I think it came up once, but I still don't know what it is."
 
"I do not actually know what it is made of," Dark admitted, "I have never made it. The recipe is not secret like the soup is, I just know it is some yellow powder from some plant that they make into a drink. It is a Egyptian thing, they drink it when someone has a baby. I guess it is supposed to have some post-partum benefits, but at Sebou everyone is meant to drink it. It is interesting, though, I guess it has been part of Egyptian culture since the Ancient days."
 
"I guess we're drinking mog, then!" Alec said cheerfully.

Xander shrugged. "Sounds cool. New experiences and all of that." He gestured to Dark's plate. "Need anything else?"
 
He glanced down at the plate and then got up to rinse it, "No, thank you. I am alright--we probably should not linger too long. The family is waiting. Thank you for the sandwich, though: hospital food is accosting."
 
Xander whisked the plate for Dark's hand before he could take a step and went to clean it himself.

"Accosting?" Alec repeated, puzzled.

"I still say we have time for a nap, but alright, if we gotta go," Xander grumbled. He dried off the plate and put it away. It wasn't really a habit yet, more done to make Dark happy.
 
"...Thank you," Dark replied, surprised by Xander's determination to refuse to let him clean a plate. He had seen the twins do something similar with Daizi, but she was pregnant. He was just tired, "and I just do not want my father-in-law to get suspicious. I do not particularly care what he thinks, but it is easier on Daizi if I do not give him ammunition."
 
"That's really tough," Alec sympathized.

Xander grinned. "You could always nap in the car while I drive."

"I'll get a cab," Alec said dryly. He headed for the entryway to fetch his shoes. "I'm looking forward to seeing this Sebou!"

"I'm not that bad of a driver," Xander protested, following his brother.

"No, you're not, because you aren't a driver at all."

"We'll be in classes soon, and I've driven the car a couple of times."

"As practice in an empty lot. That does not a driver make."

They made their way out to the car, lightly bickering the entire way.
 
"Do I look like someone who can sleep in a car?" Dark asked, "cars are uncomfortable for anyone to sleep in, outside of adolescence, and I am, by two inches, closer to being seven feet tall than I am to being six feet tall. But I am going to deputize Cooger and let him teach you to drive, considering we were meant to have all of October and most of November, and now it will probably be a bit harder to have the time. But we will still find it."
 
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"I'll wait for the school classes," ALec said uneasily.

Xander grinned and opened the back door. "Nice. Cooger's got a truck! I wonder if he as access to a standard transmission. I want to learn how to drive a stick, even if they aren't exactly popular anymore."
 
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