"Well I really appreciate it, and so will the cats," Cooger said warmly, squeezing Alec with one arm. When he released him, he said, "Yeah, go upstairs, chill out for a bit. Probably more fun than hanging with us, anyway."
"Of course Ivy counts as a person!" Daizi said, somehow both very sweet and loving but indignant, "She's just a tiny person, and she doesn't realize she is a person yet. But she still is one. And you could bring her with you, if you wanted to, you'd just need to bring her back or come and get me in... Probably about an hour from now?"
But she knew that probably wasn't really something they were looking to do, especially since Xander wasn't willing to hold her, and it seemed unlikely they'd have fun going over their spoils while one of them was saddled with a baby. But it wasn't like she wanted to pawn Ivy off, either, so she wasn't bothered. And with the twins upstairs, it did free her up a little, because Dark, of course, had no issue with her breastfeeding around him, and Cooger wasn't phased by it either, which meant she didn't have to interrupt her life at all.
He kept them up late, and although it was intentional on his part (mostly, he did also miss just hanging out on his friends' couch, which meant 'late' arrived much more quickly than he thought it would), to Dark and Daizi it just felt like time had gotten away from them. Typical for her, Daizi fell asleep with her head on Dark's shoulder, and not too long after, since Cooger was once more holding Ivy, he fell asleep too.
Then, the next phase of Cooger's plan began. Amongst other gifts, he had bought them a baby sling, which he used himself that night to clean up the house--to Dark's standards, or as close as he could manage--while still giving their sometimes demanding baby the comfort she needed. Of course she still woke regularly throughout the night, but with the exception of feedings, Cooger refused to let them do anything, and threatened to hog tie them to the couch if they dared refuse to sleep and not let him take over for one night.
Come morning, when the twins came downstairs, it was to two shockingly well rested foster parents and a very American breakfast, "They ain't got bacon, and I wasn't about to run to the store to buy some at 6 a.m., so you'll have to do without." was all Cooger really said about the night, although he had changed into the t-shirt the twins had bought him. The one he wore to the party needed to be washed.
Next was that awkward week between Christmas and New Years where everything felt a bit off and strange and nobody knew what day it was--although, with a newborn, neither Dark nor Daizi had really known with full certainty what day it was in weeks--and then New Year's Eve. Dark bought champagne and sparkling grape juice and made seafood, and expressed great gratitude throughout the evening about how they lived in a neighborhood who didn't shoot off fireworks, although he did grow more somber the closer it got to midnight, which wasn't true for Daizi. Still, he did participate in the countdown exactly as everyone else did--and fortunately, Ivy was awake in that period, so they didn't have to be concerned about waking her. Unfortunately, Enkidu was not a fan of the horns or cheering.
When the clock struck twelve, Daizi turned to Dark and kissed him, partially because it was a New Years Tradition, but not exclusively, and as she pulled away she murmured, "Happy Birthday, Darling."
