How Green Becomes Wood

Dark inhaled and put his hand on Alec's shoulder, gently squeezing it, "You will do fine, Alec."

"How chivalrous," She commented, moving her piece, "Remember to call out the moves to me."
 
Alec hummed doubtfully then shook himself and smiled at Dark. "Never mind that. You shouldn't be thinking about responsibilities on your birthday! Do you have any resolutions for this year? I decided to go out of my way to make a friend."

"Marching orders like a general," Xander commented. He thought carefully about his move before making it. Contrary to what Dark and Daizi thought, he had actually been paying attention to their game. Not close attention, but he had observed, and while he didn't think he could win, he did think it was possible if Daizi underestimated him. He called out his move as he made it.
 
Dark looked down at Alec for a time, thinking. "I had not thought of it. I normally do not make resolutions." He furrowed his brows, considering, "I suppose..." He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. The first thing that came to mind was 'doubt myself less,' but it didn't really seem measurable. And it seemed sort of sad, and Alec was sensitive to that, "I would like to be kinder to myself." That wasn't any better, "and read more."

She had been doubted her entire life, from most of the people she knew growing up. She had learned, then, not to doubt others. And anyway, unlike Xander, and Dark, and most of her opponents, she couldn't just glance at the board, she had to remember every piece and its location. So her attention never wandered, because when it did, she lost track of the game. She moved her piece, "Like marching orders."
 
Alec studied Dark for a moment. "If it's private, you don't have to tell me," he told Dark. "You have a lot of heavy stuff you deal with. How about one silly little one? Like... you will make at least four party hats this year!" He grinned at his foster father, bouncing his eyebrows. "I think I shall try to learn to do a cartwheel. I've never tried, you know."

Xander narrowed his eyes as he studied her piece. He chose his move carefully, calling it out.
 
Trying to think up a silly resolution was almost more difficult than coming up with a serious one, although he appreciated Alec's understanding of why it was hard for him to talk about personal goals. Eventually, though, he discovered the perfect silly resolution for him, "I would like to sow more seeds of mystery and eldritch horror in my day to day life. Do you understand? It would be good to end more conversations with, 'time will tell,' and when making plans refer to time as 'when the Earth is in the correct alignment.'"

Daizi lightly shut her eyes, even though it made no difference for her, and moved her piece.
 
Alec laughed merrily and nodded. "Oh, that is perfect! Absolutely perfect! And Daizi will love it, too. I think it will suit you well."

Xander took care to announce his move to Daizi as he made another choice. So far, they appeared to be evenly matched, but it was early yet.
 
"It seems sort of like making a resolution to not apologize for who you are," Dark said, smiling a bit at how happy his silly plan made Alec. "What do you think, Hummingbird? Aw, but you are still sleeping. You do not know."

Daizi thought for a long period, sitting improperly on the chair and resting her chin on her knee. Then, she moved.
 
"Her resolution is to get stronger every day and learn how to be a people," Alec smiled. He scooted over and touched her hand lightly. "I guess like all of us, but even more so."

[More movements here because I don't know how to play chess and it's feeling repetitive.]
 
"Yes, it is..." Dark sighed contentedly, and sat back to watch the game between Xander and Daizi. Occasionally, he leaned over to whisper some secret of the game to Alec, a mistake he had noticed or a move he found particularly impressive.

As the game went on, and seemed to be nearing its brutal, total-war conclusion, as not only did Daizi go ahead with her decision to not go easy on Xander, she decided to go so far as to draw out the inevitable conclusion to increase the dread of it, the house grew quiet. Enkidu was lying besides Daizi, and even the street outside seemed perfectly still. Really, the only noises were Xander calling out his moves, until Ivy stirred and began to half fuss.

"Well good morning, sweetheart." Dark said softly, and she was easy to soothe, it seemed, but the quiet was punctured by something new: "Ya Allah...!" he murmured, not quite raising his voice, but he sounded shocked, almost. But not quite. And his breathing picked up noticeably.
 
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Alec jumped at Dark's exclamation and leaned closer. "What? What's wrong?"

Xander set down the piece he'd been about to move and turned on his chair. "Is something wrong? What happened?" He looked from Dark to Alec, not sure which he should be concerned about.
 
"Goose?" Daizi asked, half standing, knowing something had happened and feeling an immediate, deep fear something terrible had happened with Ivy, that she had stopped breathing or--her blood pressure, or something, and the only thing that stopped her from immediate panic was the way Dark was not yelling instructions, from the sounds of it, he wasn't even moving.

His breath caught in his throat, and it took a minute or two before he could speak. But he knew everyone was worried, so he forced himself to, "She smiled," he didn't raise his head, "Once she recognized where she was, and I spoke to her, she smiled at me."

"What?" Daizi asked, hurrying to his side, "Ivy! Did you smile at Baba?" Seeing her mother, or maybe hearing the excitement in her voice, Ivy smiled for the second time, this time gurgling as she did.
 
"Really?" Alec scrambled closer, nearly getting on Dark's lap in his excitement to see Ivy. He realized what he was doing and pulled back, but his eyes shone bright in delight as Ivy smiled the second time. "She is! She is smiling!"

Xander held back and did not crowd Dark, but he did give a nod of satisfaction. "Nice. Right on cue, Mouse," he said quiet enough it might have been missed by the others in their excitement. Alec didn't hear it at all.
 
"Hummingbird!" Daizi cheered, gently touching Ivy's face so she could 'see' the smile too, and then genuine squealing at the milestone, and the noise was so uncommon for her, Ivy startled but then smiled more because her people all looked so happy. Well, most of them did. Dark was smiling at her but his hands trembled. "What a nice birthday present for Baba!" Daizi cooed, and, being probably the only one to hear Xander but somewhat misinterpreting him, she said, laughing, "You better not be using this moment to cheat! Don't touch the board, it's not over!"
 
Xander snorted then said in his best offended voice, "I am not cheating! I don't need to."

Alec moved back to give Dark and Daizi more space. "You get her very first smile," he told Dark, patting his shoulder.
 
"Sure you don't," She replied, but settled more into the couch, just temporarily, she was determined to return to the game and crush Xander, but this was important. Suddenly, a thought came to her mind and she handed her phone to Alec after unlocking it, "Take a picture of her, I want to be able to send it to Sally and my family." Then she took Dark's arm, and as soon as she did, he nearly seemed to melt against her.

"I do," He murmured, looking away from Ivy just long enough to look at Alec gratefully, the long years of his life just behind his eyes, "and it is a very, very lovely smile. Yes it is, my darling."

"Are you okay, Goose?" Daizi asked, rubbing her thumb against his bicep.

"Yes." He paused, then nodded, wiping his eyes with one hand, and reaffirmed, "Yes. I just... I thought of, suddenly, all of the things I would have missed if I were not... here." He knitted his eyebrows together and rested his head on his wife's shoulder, "Not only her, I just, I was hit with all of it at once, I guess."
 
Alec waited until Ivy managed another smile, though it looked exhausting to do, and took a picture of her. He checked to make sure it looked good and went to hand Daizi's phone back to her. Then he paused. He backed up and took a picture of Dark, Daizi, and Ivy all cuddled up together on the couch. "What do you mean?" he asked Dark as he gave Daizi back her phone. "You're always here with us."

"He just means he's glad he hasn't missed a moment," Xander told Alec.
 
Daizi kissed Dark's forehead and nuzzled him with her cheek, but thanked Alec as she took her phone back. Dark could help her to send them later.

"Yes, I am glad of that," he said softly, switching how he held Ivy so that she was against his shoulder. It wasn't what he meant, but it was true. Getting to be there with all of them and being present for it was something he was glad of, so it wasn't a lie. "I do love all of you--all of you--deeply."
 
Alec smiled and touched Dark's shoulder gently. "We love you, too, Baba. Deeply. We wouldn't be a family without you."

Xander shifted uncomfortably, but he couldn't deny his agreement with the sentiment. He just didn't know how to vocalize it. Alec's way was not his way. He hadn't figured out his way yet. He just hoped Dark and Daizi understood.
 
Dark reached over to put his hand over Alec's, and the gesture was a bit awkward because with how he was holding his baby, he needed to cross his arms over each other like he was lying in a coffin to do it. He squeezed Alec's hand and then let go, "Thank you."

"I'm glad you're here too, Goose." Daizi said. She hadn't missed Dark's implication, it would have been impossible for her too, considering what she had been through with him. And that thought made her want to attack him with her love and affection, but the kids were still around, so she refrained. Or tried to, she really made an attempt, but he was being so sensitive and vulnerable and she knew how hard doing so was for him, so they'd just have to begrudge her a few pecks on his face and hair, which was enough to make him smile from amusement rather than amazement. "I love you, Goose. I'm glad I married you."

"That was a good call. My younger self never would have believed it."

"Do you wish you could show this to him?"

He nodded, "Yes, I do." He allowed himself to linger in the moment for awhile longer before disentangling himself, "You have a chess game to finish."

"I do," She said, and pointed at Xander, or, where he had been last, "Say your prayers, kid."
 
Alec watched Dark and Daizi interact. He smiled a little at Daizi's display of love and folded up his legs under him as he sat at the opposite end of the couch. It was strange to watch two people like them, even still, after what he'd seen with his mother and just people in general. From his view, couples fought, ignored each other, were nearly professional with each other, or tried to shame each other into doing what they wanted. This constant outpouring of love, respect, playfulness, and support was new. It gave him hope for other couples. Maybe there were others who were like this but just weren't as comfortable displaying it in public. After all, who knew what went on behind closed doors? Perhaps... perhaps being a couple wasn't such a bad thing. Then he glanced toward Xander. His smile faded though not entirely, and he pulled up one knee to rest his chin on. Never mind. Ivy sure was cute. He wondered how exhausting it was to smile like she was.

Xander basically ignored Dark and Daizi. Just because he was used to it didn't mean he was fully comfortable. It was just a thing that happened around him. When Daizi challenged him, he grinned. "I hope you've said yours already!"
 
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