How Green Becomes Wood

Xander grumbled as he continued fiddling even as he walked. He nearly tripped over a couple of flower beds on his way but managed to catch himself just in time and right his course. He'd get to the house eventually. And once there, remember he had to open the door to enter.
 
Xander played with his new puzzle for the next couple of hours until Alec threatened to take it away because Xander kept mumbling about it. There was only so much mumbling he could be expected to take! So, he put it away for the night. And the next morning, he was back at it until he had to go fill some orders for his leather business.
 
Daizi did need to explain to her friends what had happened with Xander, and although they tried to keep their opinions to themselves, some of them failed to be as tactful as Sally had been, but they were, thankfully, talked down. Coincidentally, they decided her dress would be tied over that shoulder, a decision unrelated to the bruise since it wouldn't still be there come September, but it was exciting, because it was the first time since Ivy was born, really, that she was going to be wearing something which didn't require thinking about how she'd nurse.

That Saturday was finally a peaceful day for them again, without much to note, but Sunday morning, Dark was in the kitchen alone with Ivy, still making breakfast, while Daizi sat alone on the couch, nuzzling Adrienne on her shoulder.
 
Daizi shrugged, giving a tiny kiss to the rat, "I don't know. I know she's old for a rat, and I know we've known this was coming, and really she's held on for longer than we thought, but," she sniffed, "She's so good. And her sisters are going to be so sad."
 
"I'm sorry, Mama. Don't worry, you do what you need to do. We'll take care of everything we can for you," Alec assured her.

"What's going on?" Xander asked, yawning as he walked in.

"Adrienne is dying," Alec informed him.

"Oh." Xander frowned. "Who?"

Alec indicated the rat.

"Gotcha," Xander nodded. "Quiet day, then."
 
Daizi wasn't surprised Xander didn't know Adrienne's name, since he never seemed to care much for the rats, but it still made her sad. He didn't even know how horrible this was, how wonderful this rat was. "Dark is cooking breakfast," she told them with the same sorrow someone would have over their dog, although she was trying to keep it together, "I'm probably just going to stay here. Maybe if she's able to eat I'll give her a treat."
 
No, Xander had never liked the rats and had even gone out of his way to avoid them whenever possible, but he cared about his mother's sadness. He went into the kitchen with the intent to make her some tea or carry it out to her if Dark had already made it.

"Do you want me to stay here with you?" Alec asked sympathetically. "I can fetch the rat treats for you."
 
"If you want to," Daizi replied, a few tears escaping down her face when she felt her pet squirm, guessing she probably wouldn't still be here by lunch.

In the kitchen, Dark was clearly unhappy, but somebody needed to watch Ivy, and Daizi had more tightly bonded with Adrienne than he had. When he saw Xander, he gave him a nod and continued setting out breakfast.
 
Alec went to get a couple treats for the rat and returned to sit with Daizi. He hummed softly, just so Daizi would know that he was still there and by her side.

Xander got a cup of tea and put together a tray for Daizi before taking it to the living room. "I got your breakfast for ya, Mama," he said, setting it on the coffee table. "Alec, I think Ba needs you."

"But," Alec started, but Xander gave him a significant look. "Oh, right."

The twins went into the kitchen, and Alec asked, "Ba, how about I hold Ivy? And Xander can finish breakfast."
 
"Oh, if you would like to," Dark replied, a bit surprised, but then he saw their faces and understood. Then, taking a breath as he passed Ivy to Alec, he told them, "It will be okay. This is just... part of the rat experience. We are not getting any more, after this."
 
Alec hugged Ivy to him gently. "It's so sad. I guess I understand, but it's so sad. Why wouldn't you want to get more after this one?"

"Never mind that right now," Xander scolded him. "We can ask questions later." He stepped up to take over Dark's work.
 
"They just require a lot of care, and we don't have as much time as we used to." Dark said simply, even though it was more complicated than that. It was the easiest way to say it. With his two most pressing duties covered, he went to the couch and held his wife, occasionally feeding Adrienne little nibbles, and she could eat a little bit, but she just seemed tired, not seeming all that excited about anything. Still, she seemed comfortable, and if that changed at any point, they would have driven her to the vet immediately, but while the going was peaceful, they preferred to hold her and keep her in a place she knew, rather than stressing her at the end.

"I admire how you love everyone so deeply," Dark murmured to her while she settled in against him. They had been here so many times before, just with the rats, and they knew how it went, but that didn't make it any less sad.
 
Xander finished putting breakfast together while Alec entertained Ivy, keeping her focused on him. When breakfast was finished, Xander took a couple of plates to the living room. He set them down for Dark and Daizi before returning to the kitchen to give them space. Alec and Xander took turns feeding Ivy and themselves. They kept things as quiet and respectful as they could while entertaining a baby.
 
At some point Dark got up at Daizi's request and brought Ivy over, so they could help her gently pet Adrienne and talk to her about how they had to say goodbye to her, and it was very sad, but that Adrienne was a very old rat. They both knew that their nine-month-old, who really should have been their eight-month-old didn't, and couldn't, understand, but they still didn't want to pretend to her like nothing was happening. And even if she couldn't comprehend the idea of dying, they thought it was good for her to know that she wouldn't get to see Adrienne anymore. Daizi took Ivy up to see the rats fairly often, she guessed Ivy would recognize if one wasn't there. Ivy was upset because her parents were upset, and she spent some time in their laps, but eventually allowed herself to be taken away so she could play with her brothers.

After lunch, during Ivy's naptime, the rat finally passed, as peacefully as anyone could, and after taking the time she needed to openly cry about it, Daizi lit a black candle, a red candle, and a white candle and lighting some incense before lovingly grooming Adrienne's fur. Then, while Dark stood beside her, she wrapped Adrienne in a small scrap of white cotton and stuck small flowers into the folds of the fabric. Then she sat back, not yet feeling ready to bury her in their garden.
 
Xander waited for some time before edging up to Daizi and saying quietly, "I'm sorry about your rat. That it had to go.

Alec stood next to Xander, holding his hand. "It had a good, long, loved life," he said soberly, "but it will be missed."
 
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