How Green Becomes Wood

"Of course you'd be invited! And maybe participate. If he agrees, we'll have to plan it together, and I don't know what he'll want to do, but if there's a way for you to participate, I know we'll ask." Daizi said, excitedly, sitting upright, "Oh, I have no idea how you even go about proposing! He did it so perfectly!"
 
"I can give you some ideas, if you would like, that you can tailor to suit what you think you'd both love," Sally offered. "There are many ways to do it, but I believe my favorite would be taking them on a nice date, enjoying an evening together, and then, in private, going down on one knee to propose. By a beach or a fountain, if possible. Something about the water increases the romanticism in my opinion."
 
"He proposed to me at a restaurant," Daizi sighed, "at our favourite little café, during his lunch period. He got down on his knees right by our table, and he put his head in my lap, and I slid down onto the floor with him. I'm sure it was such a scene, but we had been saying the whole time that we weren't going to get married, but..."
 
"In a public setting?" Sally asked, surprised. Dark hadn't struck her as the type to make that sort of public display, but it did sound like a lovely scene. "Well, I suppose you could always recreate the moment to show him how much it meant to you."
 
"I don't think he expected to cry, but he feels things much more deeply than people recognize." Daizi said, knowing she had been more surprised by the proposal than she had been by the location, "But I think I want to come up with my own plan, because it's my turn. It's got to be perfect. I've got time to figure it out."
 
"Still waters like him always run far, far deeper than it looks on the surface," Sally agreed. She thought for a moment. "Hmm. Well, I suppose it depends on how big you want the gesture to be. It could be a quiet moment at home, it could be at a park, or perhaps a restaurant, or you could arrange something at the museum. Perhaps a temporary hall of memories that represents what you have gone through recently. That would be quite a spectacular thing to do. Or you could do it while at an event, particularly one he enjoys. Like a carnival!"
 
"At the top of a Ferris Wheel would be wonderful..." Daizi gasped, "I don't think I'd be able to get down on one knee for him, though, but if I did it while we were stopped at the top, I don't think they'd know on the ground. We'd go just the two of us! Unless, oh, I could get the twins involved. Alec would love to help! I don't think Xander would enjoy it, but he'd help, too. If I asked."
 
"That would be so perfect!" Sally eagerly agreed. "I mean, I do see the problem... but..." She paused before suggesting, "What if , and I already know one problem to this, but what if you got the twins on the ground to hold up a sign asking him to marry you when you two reach the top? Horribly, cheesy, I know, and you would not be able to see the sign, but that would also be something he might like."
 
"I don't know... I don't think I'd like it if I wasn't able to be part of all of it..." She trailed off, trying to think of another solution, but then she shook her head, "We don't have to think of it now. Our anniversary isn't even until November. We'll figure it out, and I want to mention it to him casually just to know if it's something he's amenable to. I'd hate to go through all of it and then have him say no."
 
"You know him better than I, but I cannot imagine him saying no," Sally assured her. "Still, it's not a bad idea. I will try to think of some other ideas, but you are right. You have plenty of time!"
 
"It's helpful enough you brought up the renewal. It's really perfect, because I really... I knew having children wouldn't make me love him less, but I never expected it'd make me love him this much more." Her glee was evident through the phone-- it made her feel so young, "Nobody warned me about that."
 
Sally laughed at that. "Because most, sadly, lose sight of their partner. You're one of the lucky ones that remembered who helped you get those children in the first place. You are so lucky, Daizi!"
 
"I never like to talk about luck," Daizi said, "It's always felt like fate. But I'm so glad this gets to be my life. We're going to the beach over my birthday, it's our first vacation as a family. I'm so excited. I told them not to buy me anything, I just want the trip."
 
"Fate, then," Sally said agreeably. She didn't see much difference between the two words, but she didn't mind trying to remember Daizi's preference. "That sounds like a lovely trip! You must bring me back a small thing of sand." She paused and added, "You know, I think Xander cares more than he lets on, and no matter how much he blusters to the contrary, I think it is good for him to see such a loving, healthy couple such as what you have."
 
"I'll be glad to bring back some sand for you," Daizi said happily, and then took some time to think, "I think it matters to him. It's just a lot to unlearn. He doesn't fuss as much as he used to, but I think we try to not be too much around him, even though that's hard."
 
"He likely appreciates that," Sally chuckled. She sighed. "I need to get back to work, darling, but you have inspired to do something romantic for my own love. I should take the initiative more often, but I have such a depressingly traditional mindset in that way! I didn't even realize how much so until meeting you."
 
"I'm sure he does!" Daizi laughed, "Go back to work, I hope I didn't keep you too long. And, I think you should! I'll gladly help, if you need it. I think it's important, people forget about the romance part of marriage because they're all caught up in the partnership side."
 
"I agree completely! Goodbye, darling. Keep me up to date on your plans!" Sally said cheerfully. She signed off to get back to work feeling far more cheerful that she had before the conversation. She thought about which restaurant to make a reservation at and where Peter might perhaps for a sleep over.
 
"I will," Daizi promised, made her goodbyes, and then sat back with the phone held to her chest. She was so fortunate to have found this love, and she lingered out on the swing, feeling like she had a crush, imagining ways she could propose to her husband. Was this how he had felt? She was going to make him feel so special and utterly adored. And she thought of the names she knew, trying to figure out which ones would fit him, until she couldn't take it anymore and she went inside to find him.
 
Tonight was the night of the gig, so as the day wore on, Xander and Alec practiced in the music room together and texted Peter to make sure they were all on the same page for the playlist order. A few days before, Xander had actually requested they play a song, and Peter had been happy to agree, as had Alec, just because he rarely asked for specific songs. By evening time, Xander loaded all the equipment and Alec into his van, went to pick up Peter, and then drove them to the pizza parlor to set up before the gig. Alec had texted their friends - as he usually did - that tonight was a gig night. Some of his friends would occasionally show up to watch and have an excuse for pizza. Xander commented on the fact that tonight they were doing a gig to Milo but didn't expect him to show up. Same with Cooger. He figured they'd be busy. Still, he could mention, as Alec told him. It wasn't a bother to mention.
 
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