How Green Becomes Wood

"You'd be surprised how often I hear something like that," Daizi commented, "Well, if you ever need me to return the favour, I'm right next door. And she almost always is too. Or our dog, if he's more your speed."
 
"I have been considering getting a dog, so I might take you up on that and at least acquaint myself with doggy natures," Lex mused. "I haven't fully committed since I've never had a pet of my own, if you can believe that."
 
"I love having a dog. We rescued Enkidu when he was a puppy, he was my first baby, really, and he never lets me forget that." Daizi grinned, "Well, we had a cat, but Enkidu was so little, we really had to care for him the way we didn't with our cat, who wasn't quite so young when we adopted her."
 
"I'm guessing Cooger hooked you up with both?" Lex grinned. "If I decide to get a dog, I'll probably go that route. I've got nothing against responsible breeders, need them to keep breeds alive or if you're looking for something specific in a dog, but I just need a pal to hang out with."
 
"He did, yeah!" Daizi told her, "With our cat, he was very involved in the entire process, helping us find the right one for our home life and all of that, signed the paperwork, attested we would take good care of her, all of that, but with Enkidu, he really just got us on the list, because he knew we were looking into getting a puppy, and the shelter ended up taking in all of these dogs from a raided mill, so he called us first thing about it. He absolutely adores animals, if you want to ruin your relationship with him, tell him you're planning to adopt a short-nosed dog or cat, or that you're buying a purebred Goldendoodle."
 
Lex laughed at that. "At least I'd be adopting the short-nosed animal, not buying it and furthering that kind of trait, but I'll keep that in mind." She tipped her head curiously. "I am going to have to ask him about the Goldendoodle, though. My sister has been talking about getting one. Something about hyper allergies or something. Not that she'll listen to me, but I'd like his take on this."
 
"He is okay with adopting them, because he still believes they deserve homes, but is not reserved like Dark, and he will tell you off if you had decided to buy one." Daizi told her, "You should talk to him about doodles. They aren't really... I do not think this will shock you, but they are not really the sort of dog Dark and I would plan to get, but I guess there isn't really such thing as an actually purebred doodle, they're a mix breed."
 
"Ah, that makes sense," Lex nodded. "Good to remember. I think I'm still a ways away from dog or cat ownership, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Say, do you mind if I try to hold Ivy? With her permission, of course."

~~

"There's home!" Alec cheered. "That was a lot of fun!"

"Thanks for taking us and for coming," Xander told Dark, truly pleased he'd come.
 
"You can try. She's been a bit shy lately because she's finally learning strangers exist." Daizi agreed, lifting Ivy and cautiously passing her over to Lex, waiting a bit anxiously to see how she'd react. Once in Lex's arms, Ivy did look rather uncertain, shifting her gaze both between Lex and her mama and cooed quietly, reaching out to Daizi. But, she didn't cry or try to get away.

~~

"I enjoyed myself," Dark told Xander earnestly, "I am glad you thought to include me."
 
"Hello, sweety!" Lex cooed happily. "Hello! I love babies your age, you know? You're so precious!" She held Ivy a little farther on her knees and not right up against her to hopefully help her feel a bit more at ease. "You know what? I've been thinking of asking your Uncle Cooger to help me tame that back yard of mine. Would you believe I still haven't gotten that jungle hacked down? I'm such a staller! Do you want to come help him?"

~~

Xander gave an awkward shrug as he admitted, "I didn't think you'd come, but it was cool. Real cool."

Alec reached the house first and kicked off his shoes. "Mama! We're home!" He didn't hear an immediate response, but that didn't worry him right away. Maybe she was showering or napping with Ivy or out back. He touched the salt and went to see if she was out back first. Nope, not out there.
 
"You're being so good, Hummingbird," Daizi cooed at her baby, leaning forward a bit to keep her daughter at ease. "I can help with your yard, if you like. Cooger can, too, but I'm pretty familiar with plants."

~~

Dark quickly noticed Daizi wasn't home and sent a very quick text to her to ask where she was, but figured she had just gone on a walk.
 
"Sure, I'd love your help! I will warn you, I can't done much to keep the thing in control, so it's pretty wild out there," Lex chuckled. "I probably should have put it higher up on my priorities list."

~~

Alec was slower to realize Daizi wasn't home because why wouldn't she be? Then he realized and started to panic just a little. "Ba! Ba, I can't find Mama or Ivy!" he nearly yelled, running toward his father. "They're nowhere! Did Mama leave?"

Xander glanced at Alec. "She does take walks and go places. She's not chained here, you know."

"But she doesn't walk without Enkidu!" Alec cried, pointed to the dog.
 
"Oh, don't worry. We'll make Cooger do the hard stuff," She laughed, and the sight and sound of it helped calm Ivy further. Mama was laughing, things must be okay. Then Daizi's phone beeped Dark's name--it was still set to Dark. She preferred having it set to Goose, but since she couldn't very well have her phone on silent, she knew he'd prefer if the entire world didn't know her pet name. "Oh, sorry, let me check this."

~~

"She does not normally, no, but she might have felt the pavement was too hot for his paws," Dark said, not particularly concerned. Everything looked to be in order and the door was locked when they came home. "I texted her to ask where they are. We just have to wait for a reply."
 
"Sure thing!" Lex assure her, turning Ivy a bit more so she could see her mother better. "Mama needs to check her phone now. Sounds like a message from Dada. Maybe it's a reminder to tell you you're a sweetheart."

~~

"Oh no oh no, what if she's in trouble?" Alec worried, dancing from foot to foot.

"Alec, chill," Xander told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "She's fine. She said she was going to hang out with a friend, right?"

"Oh... right," Alec said, calming a little and starting to blush. "She did say that."
 
"We call him Baba," Daizi mentioned idly before listening to Dark's message and responding to it, 'Lex' being the only English word she used. After it sent, she said, "They've arrived home, it seems, and wanted to know where I had run off to. But I'm sure they were worried only because they didn't know what to do without such a perfect, sweet little baby around!"

~~

Dark checked his phone when it buzzed, replied quickly to thank her and also let her know how Alec had worried, and then said, "She is next door with Lex. Apparently she went to bring some berries over, and only expected to be gone for a little while, but then they got to talking, which is why she is still gone without having alerted us."
 
"Absolutely!" Lex agreed. She gave Ivy a quick little hug and handed her back. "Thank you for sharing her with me, and I'm sorry I kept you talking so long. Off you go back to your Baba, Ivy!"

~~

"Oh," Alec said, blushing even darker. "Sorry, I overreacted. Of course she's fine. She's Daizi."

Xander started wandering toward the stairs. "Good. She deserves to have some fun."
 
"No, it's fine!" Daizi assured her, sending one more message to Dark before taking Ivy, who snuggled hard into her mama after the stress of beinf held by a stranger, "It was nice talking with you, I'm glad I stopped over. Thank you for inviting me in and for talking with me."

~~

Dark chuckled lightly at his phone screen, "She said remember this next time you think it is a good idea to leave the house without telling her."
 
"You're welcome any time. Especially if you bring berries," Lex told her. "Thank you for those." She helped Daizi navigate the unfamiliar path back to the front door. "Hopefully Toby gets home soon. That boy has a tendency to lose track of time."

~~

"That was only one time and an emergency!" Alec protested.

Xander snorted and ruffled his hair. "You're the good one, so of course you're in trouble." He headed up the stairs.
 
"You're very welcome. I prefer them not to go to waste." Daizi said, going with Lex to the door, "I wouldn't be surprised if my family left a bit early, they're not in the scene like Toby is. But I hope he comes home soon. I hope you have a nice rest of your day." She made Ivy wave goodbye before walking out of Lex's house and turning down the sidewalk back home.

~~

Dark raised an eyebrow at Alec, "Only one time? The entire time you have been here, there has only been a single moment when you chose to leave where we believed you to be without letting either of us know? Just once?"
 
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