How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi rested her cheek against the top of Alec's hair as she read, and when she finished the book, she waited for a few moments to gauge how Ivy was feeling before picking up the one on animals and reading that one to her. Despite having fewer pages, it took much longer to get through, because Ivy liked touching the fake cat's tongue and the fake fur representing various animals. If Daizi tried to turn the page too quickly, she'd start to fuss, so they'd linger, feeling the different tactile parts for significant periods of time before Ivy was okay with the page turning.
 
Alec also couldn't resist touching the animals, and he somberly reported on how real they felt or if he thought they might feel like that since he hadn't touched all the animals in the book in real life. He was greatly enjoying himself and watching Ivy.
 
Daizi, with a soft yawn, assured him she wasn't sure she had touched all of these animals either, but suggested they visit a petting zoo, and asked Ivy if that was something she would like to do. For her part, Ivy was enjoying the book and happily eating her entire fist, snuggled so closely to her Mama it seemed unlikely someone would be able to pull her away if they tried. When she wasn't looking at the book, she was looking up at Daizi with so much love and trust plain in her face, although she did occasionally still turn and babble, squeak, or grab at Alec.

When Daizi finally made it to the end of the book, Ivy took it from her and tried to open it to the start again while squeaking demandingly.
 
Alec chuckled, watching her. "How about if I read it this time through and let Mama rest her voice, you demanding little monkey?" he teased her gently, tickling her side lightly. "I don't mind reading a book a second time."
 
"She is demanding," Daizi grinned, bending to kiss Ivy's head, "but that's okay. You're allowed to know what you want, habibti. Just don't tickle her too much."

As it was, even the light tickling was enough to make Ivy laugh and squirm, dropping the book. Daizi lifted the cardboard pages and handed it to Alec, "It is a riveting story, isn't it? It was such a plot twist when they revealed a cat's tongue is rough."
 
"Indeed! I never would have guessed cats would have a rough tongue," Alec grinned, taking the book. "I've never had a cat as a pet. I've petted a few cats, but I don't think they've ever licked me. Now, Ivy, we start here with the cute puppy dog! Look, it's like Enkidu! But not."
 
Ivy squeaked and grabbed at the page, looking the way the dog felt. There was so much to feel and while Alec read it to her, occasionally she babbled as if she were trying to mimic the way he read. Of course, she didn't understand what her family actually did when they read to her, but she touched the braille label and babbled back at Alec, which was, in her estimation, basically what her Mama did too.
 
Alec encouraged her happily, trying to keep himself calm and quiet for Ivy. He was just so happy here and now, and when he was happy, he was excited. So, he paused now and then to breathe deep and calm down. Calm and quiet and prepping for bedtime. Restful time.
 
Daizi rubbed Alec's shoulder with the same gentle, soothing motion she used with Ivy when getting her ready for bed. When Alec finished his read through of the animal book, Ivy grabbed for the book about babies and held it up to Daizi, making an absolutely adorable, pleading noise.

"Okay, habibti," Daizi murmured in an even, soothing tone which dripped with love, "We can read another. I know how much my sweet Ivy-Qadira loves stories." She bent to kiss Ivy's head. To Alec she whispered, "If you ever want to leave, you can. She's really in a reading mood tonight." To Ivy, reading time meant snuggling with one of her parents (and tonight also one of her brothers!), looking at, and sometimes getting to touch, pretty pictures, and just listening to their voices, and as soon as her Mama opened the book, she went back to holding onto her as tightly as her little hands could.
 
Alec chose to stay. He'd never actually watched hos parents reading to Ivy beyond just glimpses as he went past. It was way too adorable, and Ivy was nearly sickeningly cute in her actions. As long as Daizi didn't mind his presence, he wanted to stay. At least for this time. Story time would be over soon enough, and he'd go back to his version of the real world.
 
Daizi didn't mind him there at all, and it wasn't until Ivy began to pull at the neckline of her shirt that she set the books away and moved in a way that suggested it was probably time for Alec to go about his evening. "Will you shut the light off when you go? I'll forget."
 
"Thank you for joining us," Daizi replied, reaching out to squeeze Alec's hand before he left, "You're always welcome. Maybe sometime she'll allow a greater variety of stories, too."
 
Alec laughed softly and turned off the light. "Thank you for the invitation. I am willing to read whatever she wants to read!" He whispered good night to Ivy and let himself out. TIme to head to his room.
 
"Say night-night, Ivy," Daizi murmured, making Ivy wave goodbye, and after the door shut she stretched back, making use of the foot stool, and brought her daughter to her chest. In a soft voice Daizi said, "Xander said he was going to spend time time with you this evening. Maybe he still will, in your last little bit before you go to sleep."
 
Alec went to his room and stretched out on his bed with a book. Reading with Ivy had put him in the mood to read.

Xander stuck around, making himself available while doing random small chores. He was willing to spend time with Ivy but wasn't sure how, exactly, to go about it.
 
After Ivy finished nursing for the last time that day, Daizi stayed up in the nursery with the lights off, rocking in the chair. By the little gurgles and murmurs Ivy made, it was clear she was fighting sleep, but seemed very likely to start losing anytime soon. But, she was a stubborn baby, and was doing her best to not go to bed just yet.

"I know," Daizi murmured to her, "The world is such an exciting place. But sweet babies need their sleep so they can enjoy it."

Downstairs, Dark was finishing straightening everything up. Since he and Daizi took turns putting Ivy to bed, on the nights it was Daizi's turn, he took the extra time in the evening to get caught up on cleaning. As he did, he passed by Xander, "You look lost."
 
Xander glanced at Dark and shrugged. "Wasn't sure if the mini was going to bed yet or not. I guess she is, so I guess tomorrow I'll have to play with her instead of Alec."
 
Xander shook his head. "Nah, let her sleep. I don't wanna rile her or anything. I'll just claim playtime before dinner tomorrow. It's my fault for waiting too long." He turned and started for the stairs, paused for a moment, and then continued up. Alec would likely be in their room. He wasn't sure he wanted to be in the room with him, but they couldn't keep avoiding each other, either.
 
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