How Green Becomes Wood

"Mmm. Pretty well. Not as good as some nights, and I stayed up too late drawing," Alec admitted, leaning into her. "Can we walk around your garden together later? You and I?"
 
"Dark slept hard. He's been sleeping a lot better now that he quit. There's less on his mind." Daizi hummed, her face completely soft as she thought about how wonderful it was Dark was sleeping properly again for the first time in months, and then she turned to Alec with a bright grin, "Of course we can. As soon as this one goes down for her nap, then there'll be no distractions. I always adore spending time with you." And, it made her happy they wanted to spend time alone with her.
 
Alec brightened and smiled happily. "Yay! I look forward to that." He stepped away from Daizi and asked, "Do you need any help with breakfast? Or should I hold Ivy for you?"
 
"You can hold her if you like," Daizi said, turning to him and passing her off, "It's a big day, her adjusted age is seven months old, which means we have a whole new set of milestones to look out for! She's going to get to do so much more. We're so lucky to have two big days a month for her."
 
Last edited:
Alec gasped and held Ivy up. "Are you a whole seven months old? Are you? That's so cool! That means you are only five months away from your birthday! Can you believe you've been alive on this planet for so long?"
 
Last edited:
"She is," Daizi said, and even though her head was tipped down as she cooked, her face was overflowing with pride, and just a little bit of sadness, "Eight months old from her due date, too, so she's getting very, very big. And I think she's been out in the world for longer than I was pregnant with her, now. She's thriving."

Ivy squeaked and grabbed at Alec's face, having an absolutely great morning.
 
"I think she likes it out here, that's for sure," Alec said around Ivy's fingers. "I like her out here, too!"

Xander came in slowly. He was still in the same clothes from the day before, having not bothered to change. "What's out here?" he asked, rubbing his forehead. He had a slight headache from the awkward angle he'd woken up in.
 
"Kind of. Not really." Xander plopped into a chair, slumped over the counter. "Can I ask for some tea, please? You make it better than me."

"I can do it!" Alec offered.

"You burned the water last time. I didn't know that was actually possible," Xander grumbled.
 
"Of course I'll make you some tea." Daizi replied, stepping to the side to switch on the kettle, remembering about how long it took Xander to be willing to try tea. And now he was asking for it. "What kind do you want?" Ivy cooed, bouncing in Alec's lap, and Daizi chuckled, "No, habiti, you are too young for tea, still."
 
Xander shrugged. "Something that helps the head, please. I'm not sure which that would be."

"Soon, you'll be old enough to give it a try, and then you can have all the tea you want!" Alec assured Ivy, helping her bounce. He lifted her up so she could stand on his knees.
 
Daizi nodded and set about making Xander the best type of tea for the situation, and when it was ready, she set it and a bottle of pain medication in front of Xander before bringing breakfast to the table. Not long after, Dark came back inside, unleashing Enkidu and joining them at the table. Ivy was still standing up on Alec's lap, bouncing while holding onto him. She was much better and supporting her weight, now, and when she caught sight of her father she squeaked even louder before looking back at Alec.
 
Xander thanked Daizi and took his meds and sipped the tea slowly. Tea was pretty good, he supposed.

Alec gasped when Ivy squeaked super loud and looked at her father. "What's this?" he blustered, puffing out his cheeks. "You prefer your father over your own brother? Why, why, why, you little bean sprout! Don't you know brothers outrank fathers?"
 
Daizi chuckled at Alec's reaction, taking a sip of her own tea, while Ivy giggled at Alec's silly face, babbling back at him, her bright eyes having developed a bit more green in them.

"She does not seem to agree," Dark said, ruffling both Alec and Ivy's hair simultaneously, "but that is okay, I respect her decision."
 
Alec tried to duck Dark's hair ruffling and giggled when he couldn't dodge. "Of course you do. You win this round of love." He turned Ivy around so she could look at Dark. "Do you want to abandon your big brother to go hang out with your boring Baba? Hmm?"

"I feel like I woke up in a sit-com," Xander grumbled, checking his phone. He realized he'd never responded to Milo's last text and sent one back thanking him for the suggestion to ask for help. He didn't expect a response, but it did remind him to ask about a water balloon fight in the back yard.
 
Dark rolled his eyes at Xander and lifted Ivy up, kissing her on the cheek, "Say, 'My Baba is not boring.'" Ivy immediately grabbed onto his beard and honoured with him with one of her violent, sloppy kisses, and Dark turned his head towards her as much as he could manage with her holding onto his face so securely, "Ivy, my darling--" hearing her name, she brightened up considerably, which altered the rest of Dark's sentence, "How can one person be so happy all of the time? It is still bewildering. It is."

"It is amazing how different life is when we can be relaxed for once," Daizi commented slyly, sitting down to eat her breakfast.
 
"In our yard?" Daizi asked, turning towards them, a bit hesitant, "I think... Well, I don't want anyone to step on my flowers or bushes. But I suppose if everyone is careful and all of the water balloon bits are picked up after, it should be fine."
 
"We'll definitely pick up the bits, and it's with Milo. He's about as careful as you get," Xander said. After a thoughtful pause, he added, "Maybe we should invite one other to make it an even four."

"Baba could join, and maybe Mama," Alec said.

"I said an even four, as in fair."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top