How Green Becomes Wood

"I'm sure she will look curiously at them, but they won't play with each other. It starts later that babies start feeling a lot of excitement with each other, I think, and later still that they play with each other rather than near each other." Daizi explained, hoping her recollection of the books were still accurate. Well, they'd find out how Ivy reacted to other babies when they went to the group, "This one is for babies born in November, so she's on their same developmental level."
 
"I bet Ivy is going to love it, whatever she thinks of actually playing with them," Alec grinned. "It was probably different for us since we already knew each other and all that." He bid Ivy goodbye and skipped off upstairs.
 
"I'm sure Dark and I are more nervous than she will be," Daizi agreed, parting ways with him to find her husband and present him with their only slightly smelly baby. Naturally, Dark teased her and pretended to blanche at the supposition that he change a diaper, but then brought her to the nursery to clean her up.
 
The rest of the day went by as normal, but with the twins taking turns trying to either take on one of Daizi's less preferred tasks or looking after Ivy. Xander then took over Dinner Duty, and Alec lay on his back on the couch sketching since Xander kicked him out of the kitchen.
 
At around mid-day, Dark had sat down on the floor beside the window nearest to Lex's house, watching for when his friend arrived. He wanted to watch how Cooger started and ended it, but naturally they couldn't know he was spying. To his satisfaction, Cooger had worn the texted outfit: jacket (choice of either leather or his nice, dark denim. Cooger had gone with the denim) worn over an unbuttoned flannel without any stains or rips, worn over an unprinted v-neck t-shirt with the silver arrowhead necklace Dark had given him for his birthday a number of years ago, nice belt with the silver buckle, same colour as his shoes, unless he chose his doc martens, in which case, match his flannel to the shoes ("Wear nice shoes" the text had read, "not loafers, but do not wear your work boots"), if he chose the jacket, do not wear the same colour denim jeans as his jacket.

Hours later, he sat in the same awkward position later, watching Cooger bring Lex home. Typically, after Cooger went on a date, he'd go over to see Dark after so they could discuss, but since Lex lived right next door, it seemed like that may put her in an odd situation, so Dark watched from the window, doing his best to hide, to gauge how it had gone and made a mental note to call Cooger in about an hour, after he had time to get home and settle.
 
Lex had "dressed up" in that she'd put on a bit of makeup, small earings, her good blue jeans, a red tank top, and a lightweight tan jacket. When she saw Cooger, she complimented his outfit and remarked she felt underdressed, but she didn't mind. The plant took her by surprise, and she put it carefully in the house before joining him. The panini place was new to her, but she quite liked it and said so. The conversation never lagged with Lex focusing entirely on Cooger and genuinely enjoying his company as they chatted. She brought up having looked into bigfoot and a couple of conspiracies for the first time in years and told him a couple of the funny ones she'd come across as well as a couple that sounded disturbingly like they might actually work. Then moved on to music, work, and other casual conversation topics that still had substance.

When Cooger dropped her off, she thanked him for the good time sincerely and went inside with a smile. She still looked forward to losing the earings and the makeup, but that had been one of the best dates she'd ever been on. Not the best, but up there for sure.

Xander walked over to look out the window as Lex headed inside. Then he looked down at Dark. "Don't worry. The kids didn't even hold hands at the door," he said dryly. "Not a kiss in sight."
 
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Cooger assured her, genuinely, that she looked very nice and she had nothing to worry about, expressing to her all he had really done was change out of work clothes for once, although he withheld the fact he didn't choose his own outfit. Admitting he needed his friend to dress him felt rather embarrassing, so instead he made sure to compliment her, even though it may have bordered on too much. That was the nerves talking, really. When he got into the car, he thought he had caught a glimpse of Dark in the bottom corner of the window, but decided he must have been seeing things. Ivy must have been working on standing. Because if it was Dark, that meant he would have to try to wave him away without Lex seeing so she didn't think he was crazy.

It was a really nice date, Cooger thought, and he couldn't help but find it endearing how she had looked up conspiracy theories for him, even finding some he hadn't heard before. At the restaurant, he remarked how he had been raised with such a pressure to pay for every date, but knew not everybody was comfortable with that, and so did his best to give her the choice without making himself seem cheap. It was a good time, and he told her so, hesitating for a moment just before the door shut to suggest maybe doing something like it again.

Dark glanced up from the corner he had wedged himself into, just barely being able to peer at Lex's house from that angle, "They did not? Good. It would be too soon."
 
Lex thought Cooger was sweet and rather cute with his somewhat clumsy attempts at trying to make sure she had a choice about paying or not. She readily agreed to split the bill, not at all offended and even a little flattered that he'd be so thoughtful. She did like being taken out from time to time and "spoiled," but that was an occasional thing between partners, in her opinion. Not first date material with someone she wanted to stay friends with however the relationship worked out.

When he hesitated at the door, she opened it again. "You want to go out again?" she asked, repeating him to make sure he heard. "Sure! How about some kind of activity next time? Whoever comes up with the idea first doesn't have to pay." She gave him a wink.


Xander folded his arms as he stood in the window in full view and watched. "Looks like they're discussing something, but she's smiling. He looks like if he had something in his hands, it'd be torn to shreds." He looked down at Dark. "Shall I keep describing it to you, or would you like for me to get you a box?"
 
"'Course I do," Cooger replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I mean. If you'd like. I'm not great at picking activities, though, I always default to suggesting a nice hike, and, I dunno. That sounds a lot like... 'come let me lure you deep into the woods.'" He laughed softly at his own comment, "And that--that don't seem right."

Dark stretched forward so he could take a quick peek outside and apparently satisfied, sat back. With a dry laugh at Xander's joke he answered, "I need to not be seen. A box would not help." After a moment he said, "Sit down. It will look like I sent you to spy if they notice you watching."
 
Lex chuckled. "Yeah, it kind of does. Don't worry. We don't have to figure it out standing on my porch. Just text me if you think of something. Unless I think of it first."

Xander stared down at Dark sitting on the floor. "Dude. If you're like this with your best friend slash brother, I'm so not looking forward to when the mini starts dating."
 
"I'm not a murderer, promise." Cooger laughed, "But, uh, I do, I do have your number, so I'll text you. And you've got mine, so, if you think... But I won't accept if your idea of a nice date is me just helping you move something to a client."

Dark glanced up at him blankly, "This is different from that." He nodded towards the window, "I have to make sure he does not blow this."
 
"Oh, hell no!" Lex laughed easily. "Nah, my idea of a date is spending time together doing something even a little out of the ordinary while focused on each other. A hike sound good, but maybe not yet."

"Uh-huh, Xander said dryly before moving out of the line of sight in the window. "And what are you going to do if he does start to blow it? Run out the door waving your hands?"
 
"No, not yet," He agreed easily, sticking his hands in his pockets, "Well. I'm sure there's something. It's an interesting town. Never know what's happening in it."

"Make a mental note of it and mention it when we talk about this after." Dark answered, "It would be better if I could hear. Once he implied he would go home with his date and kiss her dad. Did not have a second date with her."
 
Lex chuckled and stepped farther into her house. "Thanks for the good time, Cooger. Text me later, yeah?"

"Who wouldn't want to go on a second date with that," Xander snickered. He looked out the window. "Looks like she's trying to get rid of him now."
 
"Yeah, I will. Ah, bye for now." After hesitating for a moment, he raised one hand and returned to his truck.

"Here is hoping he has not made a fool of himself again." Dark replied, stretching up to take a peek.
 
Lex watched him, amused, and then shook her head before retreating into her house and closing the door.

"Wanna bet he comes over without thinking about it?" Xander asked with a smirk. "Or maybe he'll drive a loop and come over."
 
"It would be clever if he drove a loop," Dark answered, standing up and stretching as best as he could, having become quite stiff down on the floor. "But we do not want Lex to look outside and see him here, it would look like we are talking about her. Which of course we would be."
 
"I don't think it'd surprise her much. Just saying," Xander said, watching Dark with obvious amusement. "As far as your spy business goes, I'd tell you not to quit your day job, but you already did, so..."
 
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