How Green Becomes Wood

"Even if neither are her first word, she will have to say one before the other," Dark replied, "Even if she never says them before she is seven, since she cannot say them simultaneously, she will have to say one before the other. But I think we need to admit to each other we cannot commit to such horrible terms."
 
"Look," He looked at Xander, "I know perfectly well babies are less likely to say what they call their father, and I have not seen my chin in a decade or more. I cannot take that chance."
 
"Probably none," Dark confessed, "I can only imagine whatever she says first will be both very exciting and a little sad for whoever she did not say first. Adding an embarrassing loser term would only make us feel worse. I might make a bet with Cooger, because I know I am likely to win that one. So I can trap him in some tragic condition."
 
"Now that would be fun to see," Xander admitted.

"I'm betting she'll say Baba first because it's easier to wrap her lips around," Alec mused. "Or maybe the mmmmm sound is easier."
 
"That is what I am lucky about," Dark said, "in English, babies refer to their father second because the 'd' sound is difficult, but we are using the Arabic, and both the 'b' and 'm' sounds are some of the easiest for babies to say. So really, it could go either way..." He sighed, looking again at the stairs, "I think I would prefer her to say 'Mama' first, though, because I know how happy it would make Daizi..." His eyebrows furrowed, "And somehow, saying so, it feels like both a lie and the truth simultaneously."
 
"And she would say exactly the same thing," Alec remarked. "That's because you're both-"

"Really hopelessly mushy people," Xander drawled.

"Selflessly loving without sacrificing your own individual selves," Alec concluded.
 
"I just want the world for her," Dark said. He tried to think how to explain the bond they shared to the twins, but couldn't think of any words strong enough. Thank god he hadn't needed to write his vows at his wedding, he'd never have been able to find the words.
They hadn't lessened in the care they had for each other. As he thought about it, his eyes lit up, and shaking his head he said, "I am sorry, Xander, you can find us mushy if you like, but I do love her. She has changed my life, and saved my life, and I cannot..." Again he struggled for the correct words, but failing gave up. It made him want to watch their wedding video again, certainly. The sight of it might kill Xander, he knew that. Maybe one day Alec or Ivy would have questions about their wedding, then he'd be able to show it off.
 
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"Yes, you are madly, deeply, and terrifyingly in love with her," Xander sighed, wondering what was taking Daizi so long. This was such a moody conversation to have on a birthday! Not that he should have expected any different from Dark, he supposed.

"You are such a downer," Alec sighed.
 
"I am," Dark agreed with Xander, "and we are very happy together. Are you calling myself or Xander a downer? I am talking about the love I have for my wife, I cannot be a more upbeat man if I tried. Saying she saved me and changed me is saying she is, I think, the most positive force in my life, yes?" He was a bit bewildered, and looked again to the stairs and smiled in his own little way when finally he saw Daizi come back down.

"She was really hungry," Daizi said as an explanation, "What are you three talking about?"

"You,"

"Oh. Good things, I hope?"

"What else would I say?"
 
"That he thinks I called him a downer when clearly I was talking about Xander," Alec told her.

"I am not a downer, I was just saying what was going on," Xander replied with a sniff.
 
"No, Alec, darling," Daizi said, sitting on the floor instead of on the couch, although still in front of her husband, and with one hand snapped to call Enkidu to her side. It was important to her that her baby and her dog interacted at least for a little bit of the day, "you have to understand, Dark is often accused of being a downer, so it's normal for him to expect you are talking about him if you don't specify." After Ivy was secure on the mat, she also rested on her stomach so Ivy would still be eye level with her.

"Thank you, Spider," Dark rolled his eyes, patting the top of Enkidu's head.
 
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"He's not a downer. Just somber," Alec replied.

"How is being somber not being a downer?" Xander protested. He moved so Daizi would have plenty of seating choices to choose from.

"It is different. Somber is a personality. Downer is an action," Alec told him.

Xander walked over and ruffled Alec's hair with both hands, growling playfully. Alec squirmed and protested to no avail.
 
"I know he's just somber, and everyone who really knows him knows that, but people who don't are very likely to write him off as a downer or a stick-in-the-mud. And they're wrong, but it's because most people have never learned to tolerate sadness." Daizi explained, supporting a recently milk-drunk Ivy up to Enkidu and letting him carefully sniff her. Before she was born, there were some concerns about how Enkidu would react to a baby, having never really met one before, but he had only ever been curious and gentle. Presently, he was sitting near to Daizi, looking at the tiniest human he had ever met, and was much calmer with her than he was with any of the bigger humans.

Dark was still a bit anxious when the two were interacting, so he watched them carefully, while Daizi gently took Ivy's hand and made her pet Enkidu. "I am just glad nobody asks me to smile anymore."
 
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"He's not always sad. Just reserved," Alec said cheerfully. He patted Enkedu's head before sitting back and giving them plenty of room. "Enkidu, do you like seeing Ivy out here after listening to her growing up? And smelling her?"

"I am so glad I do not have dog hearing," Xander said. Seeing nothing particularly interesting forthcoming, he wandered off. He had no interest in continuing discussions of babies, love, downers, or future Ivy.
 
"I think he likes her," Daizi said while Ivy forced her eyes open, seeming to be in another one of her 'fighting sleep' moods, and watched Enkidu curiously.

"I know she likes him," Dark yawned.

"I think Baba needs a nap," Daizi whispered to Ivy, kissing her head, "and so do you. But Baba isn't ever going to take a nap, is he? And it's his birthday! He deserves a nap. Mama still needs to give Baba his present."
 
"Oh, sure, you can, thank you." Daizi said, "Here, I'll whisper where I've hidden it. I can't have him learning where I stash his presents."

"If I knew, I still would not root around for them," Dark said.

She kissed Alec's cheek after whispering the hiding spot to him and then told Dark, "I don't believe you. I know you're more curious than you let on."
 
Alec giggled and hurried off to fetch the gift. He took his time but soon returned with the gift, which he started to hand to Daizi and then paused. Daizi was holding Ivy. "Should I give it to him?" he questioned.
 
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