How Green Becomes Wood

"Dark, yes," He confirmed for him, understanding the confusion between how he sounded and his name, but not addressing it, "And yes, they are with us." He couldn't bring himself to call them his foster children.

"They have lived with us for over a year. We took them in the December before last," Daizi explained, wanting some indication from the twins if it was okay with them if they mentioned their adoption plans.

"Mr. Corporal said you wanted to speak with us?"
 
The twins said nothing, both of them sitting rigid with their eyes glued to the phone. If asked, they would not have been able to put words to the tumult of emotions rolling through their minds. They didn't even realize Daizi was asking for permission to mention the adoption papers. If they had, they would have said no. They didn't want to give away any more information than needed.

"Yes, I was hoping to get in touch with you and set up a meeting with Alec and Xander," Tristan said perfunctorily. "I understand if there is some hesitation involved, I understand I am a stranger, but as a blood relative, I would like to establish at least a basic relationship with them, if they are willing to allow it. At least one visit. If they desire to have nothing to do with me beyond that first visit, I will respect their wishes."
 
"I'm not sure exactly what they're comfortable with yet," Daizi told him, "and I don't want to rush them into something, or force them to do something they aren't comfortable with. I'm sure you can understand it's a complicated situation on their end."

"We would like to know a little bit more about you," Dark said, looking at the twins.
 
"Of course," Tristan agreed. "I had hoped to perhaps suggest a meeting in a park? Or similar? But if you would prefer, I can list off a bunch of my traits here and now over the phone. I can read off my resume for my last job?" His tone was light-hearted and humorous.

Alec tipped his head and smiled a little, amused by his tone and liking how he was adding humor into the situation. Xander frowned, not amused and feeling Tristan was taking things too lightly.
 
"Meeting in person may be easier," Dark said slowly, looking to the twins for confirmation, wanting them to have as much control over the situation as they could, "I suspect our schedule is more open than yours is, presently."

Ivy spat out the pacifier and cooed at her mother, who shushed her before saying, "A park is fine. Anywhere public, secure, and open." She intentionally chose to repeat Xander's words, "You know, some place neutral."
 
The twins glanced at each other and considered before nodding their agreement. The park was fine. It was a good place, and it might be easier to get a reading of the stranger if they could see his face.

"Would tomorrow evening be too soon?" Tristan suggested, a note of hope in his voice. "I have most evenings available or can make them available if you'd prefer more time. I was thinking around... four? Or five? You can name any park you like. There's a few that have pavilions if you don't mind a pavilion for the shade, but any park will do."
 
"Tomorrow at that time is fine," Dark answered, and after thinking about it for a few moments, named a park that was neither the one they went to on Father's day, which was the one closest to home, nor the one they went to when they first met Declan. Daizi thought about mentioning her situation, but decided against it: it was a good test to see what sort of person she was dealing with.

Instead, she asked, "Where do you work?" to try to see if she could understand his general availability, and his responsibility level.
 
"Perfect." There was a slight pause. "Is the south side alright?" He named the road closest to the area he meant, which was near a pavilion with a paved walkway leading to it. "I work part-time at Greater Penn Valley Lending."

Xander had looked up the area Tristan mentioned, and he nodded to Dark and Daizi. It looked reasonable and had multiple areas of escapes.
 
"That area is fine. Well, it is settled, then. We will meet you there." Dark replied, although Daizi had, admittedly, gotten a bit confused if the twins were going to join them or not. She had thought they weren't planning to, yet, but the conversation now sounded otherwise.

Again, she had to shush Ivy, and in doing so thought of another question, "Did Lance tell you anything about us?"
 
"Oh, no," Tristan assured her. "He told me the name of Mr. Dark only once you'd agreed to contact me, but other than that, he said nothing. I presume to protect your privacy, which I thoroughly approve." He hesitated a moment before asking, "Will the boys be joining us on this first meeting? Or will it be only you adults? I understand either way."

Xander shook his head. Alec nodded. Xander frowned at Alec, Alec frowned at Xander, and they started whispering furiously.
 
To stall, and give the twins more time to decide, Daizi said, "...Well, to make things a bit more even between us, I'll tell you Dark is a history teacher at the high school," at least for the moment, "and I work at the museum downtown. Not the art museum or the science museum, the one everyone calls simply the museum. And since we were told you're from in town, I suppose it's only fair to admit we aren't, but I suppose you might've guessed that already. As for the twins..."

They were both fully prepared to say they needed time to discuss it with the twins if they hadn't come to a conclusion yet, but Daizi paused in case they had decided.
 
Xander and Alec finally looked at Daizi and firmly shook their heads. Alec was desperately curious, but Xander wanted an abundance of caution, and as much as it annoyed him, Alec had to admit that Xander had more points in his favor. So, caution it was. This was that man's family, after all.

Tristan waited politely for Dark and Daizi's answer.
 
"It will just be us for right now," Dark answered, "I hope you can understand why we are being cautious and for wanting to meet you first before we make further introductions. It is an all around tender situation."

Daizi hugged Ivy close, and that little attention helped keep her from being a distraction, "But we will see you tomorrow."
 
"Good. I look forward to it. Thank you for allowing this to proceed forward," Tristan said politely. He confirmed the time and the place before hanging up.

Alec waited to make certain the phone was off before letting out a huge sigh. "That wasn't so bad!"
 
"It definitely could have been worse," Daizi agreed with a nod, rubbing Ivy's back as she let herself relax for the first time since Lance's visit, "He seemed... nice, enough, and less fake-charming than some people I've met. He has a stable job."

"I do not adore the wait we are about to have until we meet him tomorrow," Dark said, rubbing his face as he set his phone down.
 
"At least you don't have to clean the house in preparation for his visit," Alec told Dark.

Xander sighed and stood. "Money lender, right? Great. That doesn't speak well of him."

"Somebody needs to do the job. It's not a terrible thing to do," Alec told him. "It just can be. Like any job."
 
"That is a great benefit," Dark agreed with a nod.

"This isn't The Taming of the Shrew," Daizi gently reminded them, "and working at a money-lending business does not mean he is necessarily a money lender himself. Not everybody who works in a hospital is a doctor, not everybody who works at a law office is a lawyer."
 
"Exactly!" Alec agreed more cheerfully than he felt. "We have hope for a regular person."

"And I guess we'll have an even longer wait than you since we don't get to find out until after you get home," Xander grumbled.

"Oh," Alec realized, "are you going to leave Ivy home with us?"
 
Daizi paused, standing up Ivy in her lap, and sat for a few moments as her baby grabbed at her face and babbled at her before saying, "I'm not sure. I'm not particularly concerned of anything happening to her, I can't think of anything he could do that would be a problem for her, even if we decide he isn't someone we should see again, she isn't going to know that, and I doubt there is going to be any dangerous altercation. But I don't want her to be a distraction." She stroked Ivy's thumb with her cheek.
 
"I imagine it won't take that long. An hour? Maybe two? I don't mind looking after her for that long, and Lex is next door, and the Applebaums are across the street if anything happens," Alec volunteered.
 
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