How Green Becomes Wood

"One of us would have found it when Ivy started crying," Daizi said with an air of certainty, "Honestly, it's what we get for spending some time not completely obsessing over her like she deserves. If we had done that, we would have spotted it already."

Dark smiled slightly, bending to caress Ivy's cheek, "If we just held her all the time, then there would be no need for anyone to lean over the cot and risk losing things."

"But some people think that's going to an extreme," Daizi joked, referring to the twins.
 
"Hey, some of us enjoy having a little elbow room from time to time and think others might want the same," Xander said, wagging his elbows a little to underscore his point.

"Sorry, I'll try to keep better track of things when I'm around her," Alec said, trying not to laugh at his brother.
 
"But she is just a baby," Dark said simply, "and babies like to be held." Then he bent, and very carefully brought Ivy to his chest, and after a moment holding her there, he took a quick, deep breath, and bent to kiss the top of her head. It had been a week and a half, not nearly long enough for him to not feel overwhelmed with how strongly he felt for this small person. Saladin was watching him intensely, but for once, he didn't say anything.
 
"Everyone wants to be held at least sometimes," Alec agreed, "even him." He nodded toward his brother, who shrugged. "And Everyone needs some time to be alone. Even me!" He smiled and touched Daizi's arm gently. "But we all have different levels. I bet Ivy is loving every bit of holding she's getting. "
 
"That's why we do, on occasion, force ourselves to give her time to sleep alone in her cot. And we're careful about about making sure she's not overstimulated." Daizi said, leaning against Alec's shoulder.

Dark half turned, rocking Ivy, his attention to the rest of the people in the room dwindling as he watched his child. As he turned, Saladin stretched up and peered around Dark to look at his grandchild's face. He tried to look between the two, but couldn't catch a good enough look at him. Still, after a moment, hesitating, Saladin said, "She's very pretty. I think she has your nose. Daizi's looked different, when she was that small."
 
"Because you are a wise and good mother," Alec smiled, leaning into her. He looked up at Saladin's statement and smiled wider. He wanted to say something about it, but chose not to as he might not like attention being drawn to him.
 
The fact Saladin actually spoke directly to him, and wasn't insulting, took Dark very much by surprise, and he turned to look at his father-in-law. Still confused, he took a quick glance at Daizi, and remembering she couldn't see him, then looked at the twins before asking, "Do you think so? I had been hoping she would not."

"But you've got such a nice nose, Zalmi!" Zeinab exclaimed.

"That's what I keep telling him," Daizi sighed, "He thinks it's too big."
 
"I think it's distinguished and defining. Overall, a very lovely nose," Alec said cheerfully.

Xander nodded seriously. "It is a nose alright. With two smell-holes and everything."
 
Ivy squirmed but didn't wake, and Dark looked down at her face, "I will like it better on her."

Daizi pushed herself up off the bed, and went over to find Dark, resisting the urge to wrap her arms around him, because she didn't want to make her father uncomfortable. But her man being sweet to their baby was too much to resist.

The aunts who were looking at the couple all, in their own way, reacted to it by wondering how Saladin could look at them for over a decade and never change his opinion.
 
Alec smiled, pleased to see the three together as their own little tight-knit family of love. He didn't feel excluded, it was just nice to see their love. It was beautiful. Made even more special by Saladin's compliment. It was a tiny bit of surrender on his part, possibly the only one they'd see, but Alec had hope that someday they might even reach heights of moderate civility between Dark and Saladin.

Xander just hoped that the comment meant Saladin was willing to call a truce and end the bitter war of words.

At the end of the day, they went home to the quiet, empty house and spent time with Enkidu. Xander spent extra time walking him, and Alec threw a ball for him in the backyard. They went over the house yet again, cleaning an already clean house and trying to make sure everything was neat and tidy for Dark. Daizi's office got new flowers whenever the old ones started to die. Another day down. Who knew how many to come until everyone could be home again?
 
A day or two after, Daizi's family, except for Zeinab, flew home. That day, for the very first time, while the twins were in the hospital, there was a tiny little knock on the door.
 
"I'll get it!" Alec chirped and bounded across the room. He opened the door and looked at grown-up head height. "Hello?" he asked the empty air, puzzled. Then he looked down. "Oh! Hello!"
 
"Hi Alec," Alice said, smiling up at him, but playing with the ends of her hair anxiously, "I hope I'm not bothering anyone. I don't wanna wake Ivy or nothing. I just, my family is going home today, so, I was just wondering, is Xander there?"
 
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"Oh, you're fine!" Alec assured her, stepping back. "Do you want to come in? You're welcome to if you want!" Turning, he called softly, "Xander, you have a guest!"

Xander came forward and looked around Alec's shoulder. "Oh, hey, Wonderland. Whats up?"
 
Alice took a step forward, but then hesitated, "I don't know if I should. It's your space, and I dunno if my dad would like it." Still she peered inside, her eyes widening when she saw Daizi for the first time. Then she tried very, very hard not to look like she had been shocked when she saw Xander and said, "Oh, um, it's just, Dylan and Jaxson are going home today, so, um, I guess I am too."
 
Alec moved out of the way, and Xander came forward, leaning on the doorframe. "Yeah? Nice. You finally get to get out of here. Shame. Now I don't have anybody to sneak extra cookies with in the cafeteria."

"What extra cookies?" Alec demanded, leaning forward again.

Xander pushed him back. "No extra cookies, you misheard." He winked at Alice.
 
"Yeah, nobody said anything about extra cookies!" Alice said with a grin, "I'm glad that I don't have to be here all the time, but also..." She scuffed her shoe, "I don't know." She glanced at Alec and then took a few steps back into the hall to lure Xander out, so she didn't have to talk in front of everyone, "Is that your foster mom?"
 
Xander hesitated then followed her out into the hall. "Yeah, that's her," he said cautiously, trying to guess where Alice might be going with this.

Pouting a little, Alec turned and retreated into the room to give them privacy.
 
"I haven't seen anyone who looks like her before," Alice murmured, scratching her arm. Then she looked up at him, "This is probably the last time we're gonna see each other, huh?"
 
"Yeah, she's unique," Xander agreed, "and a bit weird, but probably the nicest and most stubborn person you'll ever see. Really smart, too. She helps run the museum." At her question, Xander shrugged. "Probably. It's be cool if I could say we'll see each other again, but probably not."
 
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