How Green Becomes Wood

"Welcome home," Daizi called from the living room, quite pleased to note she hadn't heard the twins arguing when they stepped inside that afternoon.

"How was school?" Dark asked, stepping out of the kitchen as he dried his hands on a dish towel, "Better than yesterday, I hope?"
 
"I dunno, but apparently it happened over summer," Alec said cheerfully as he set his back next to Xander's.

"That would explain why you didn't return to school," Xander said, wandering over to say hello to Ivy and offer her a fist bump.

"Reports vary on how it happened," Alec told him.
 
"That is tragic." Dark replied solemnly, his enjoyment at the thought present in his eyes. "And to think, nobody came to my funeral."

Ivy reached out and grabbed Xander's fist, attempting to unfurl his fingers with a delighted coo.

"What is the most common report?" Daizi asked curiously, unable to resit the urge to know more despite also being torn between the humor she found in the rumor and the upset the possibility of her husband's death brought her.
 
Xander sighed but let her slowly uncurl his fingers. He made her work for it and wouldn't let her touch anything but that one hand.

"According to Becky, the top two possibilities are he was caught by the CIA while working as a spy and died a fiery, over-the-top death, or he was working for the CIA, and the Egyptian Mafia caught on," Alec reported. "There's also one that he was in witness protection from the Mossad and they found him."
 
Ivy watched Xander's hand with complete fascination, examining how his fingers moved and stretched. In that moment, nothing else mattered, and she looked sort of like Dark when he was hard at work. He may have noticed, with some shock, but at that moment he was pulling lightly on his beard and considering these theories, "It is interesting... Do they recognize I am not Egyptian or Israeli, or are they actually quite aware of Iraq's history?"
 
"Depends on the person," Xander said, holding the rest of his body perfectly still as Ivy explored.

"A lot of them do know you are not Egyptian or otherwise, and several have at least a basic idea of Iraq's history, and several don't really care because it's a cool story," Alec snickered.
 
"If my dad was a bit more powerful, he would've sent the Egyptian mafia after Dark," Daizi joked, resting her chin in her hand, "I don't know if he had ever hated anyone more in his life."

"Probably not," Dark agreed with a shrug, finally noticing Ivy and quickly redirecting her attention away from Xander. "Honestly, as sad as it is, I just appreciate the prevailing theory is I did not die in an accident involving indecent acts on a camel."
 
Alec smirked. "Well, those theories do exist, but they are lower down on the list."

Xander rolled his eyes and stepped away from Ivy, holding his hand a little stiffly. "You and Becky both should be thinking about why you listen to this nonsense."

"I just listen to Becky, and Becky listens to people who talk," Alec said, frowning at him. "She'll make a good therapist someday, I bet. Or a life coach."

Xander shook his head and went to wash his hand while Alec fussed over Ivy.
 
"Them being lower on the list is an improvement," Dark said with a wry smile, although some part of it did still sadden him it was still there, especially as his daughter cooed.

"It's normal to enjoy those sorts of rumors," Daizi said, putting her hair up before getting up to help cook dinner, "You just have to be critical about them. I trust you enough to believe you know which rumors you should renounce and which are okay to laugh about."
 
"I figured!" Daizi replied, "I don't miss hearing rumors about me, though. Somehow when I was in high school, they weren't silly like the ones about Dark are now."

"Rumors about teachers are always less cold-hearted than ones against peers," Dark replied, kissing the top of Ivy's head before standing to help her, "it is nice to know I am still remembered."
 
"Anyway, what did you guys get up to today on yet another day of getting to do nothing but stay home and play?" Alec teased. He held out his arms to Ivy and made "gimme" motions with his hands.
 
Dark handed Ivy over, then stood to help Daizi, "I did nothing particularly unique. We were working on learning new things together, Ivy and I. Did we not, my darling?"

"Well hold on now," Daizi said, turning slightly towards him, "I do have a paying job still."
 
"Lots of baby breaks," Daizi agreed with a pleased smile, "I do most of my work while she naps."

"We worked a lot on patty cake, right Hummingbird?" Dark said, while Ivy cheerfully babbled about her entire day, "We also played a lot of peek-a-boo."
 
"Patty cake and Peek-a-Boo! How fun!" Alec cheered and whisked Ivy around the room.

"Hey!" Xander protested, coming back into the living room. "I said I'd play with her today!"
 
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