How Green Becomes Wood

"It was nice," Daizi murmured, rising to her feet. "Thank you."

When she halted, realizing truly what they were about to go and do, Dark came and took her hand, "Are you certain about this?"

Swallowing her anxiety, she nodded, holding tightly to his hand, "Yes. It's important." Daizi turned her face to Dark, "They saved her life, Goose. Tomorrow she's a year old because of them."

"And because of you," He replied, wanting desperately to kiss her, "I am proud of you, Daizi."

The use of her real name gave her the strength to steel her nerves and the two of them went downstairs, collected Ivy, and went to the car, trusting the twins would bring the basket.
 
Alec and Xander brought the basket out, quarreling over who would get to carry it. Xander retained that right since he had more room, and Alec sat in the middle as usual. Alec pouted a little that he didn't get to carry the basket, but he soon settled and chattered happily about what they were going to do.

When they reached the NICU, Alec handed Xander a vest. Xander sighed but resignedly pulled it on. It was a thin little vest more for fashion than any kind of warmth or protection from the elements. It had little animals all over it with a cream background. It looked like something a child carer would wear. Alec wore his proudly. He'd brought one for Dark, and it lay on the seat.

The desk nurse at the NICU looked them over, ready to quickly address any problems, but they did not seem to be having an emergency. "How can I help you?"
 
Dark stared down at the flimsy, colourful vest but kept to his word and did not put it on. This was not a joke to him. This was not a game. Alec was sixteen and more than old enough to understand. It upset him to know refusing to wear it would surely upset his son, but that wasn't a sufficient reason to ignore his own boundaries.

"Are you ready?" Dark asked, turning to face Daizi and taking her hand.

"No," Daizi swallowed, taking a deep breath, "but I'll never be. Ivy, Hummingbird," She said, forcing herself to release her husband's hand to lift Ivy, "On the day you were born, we brought you here, because you were sick, and they made you better. So we're going to say thank you! Can you say thank you?" Daizi asked, running her fingers through her dark hair.

"Mama," Ivy gurgled, not understanding anything happening.

After taking an extra moment to steel her nerves, Daizi nodded and Dark took her arm to guide her into the hospital. The moment they stepped inside and the smell hit her, Daizi paled considerably and she dug her nails into Dark's arm, but thankfully she was on his right and wasn't sticking her talons into his fresh tattoo.

"You can do this," He whispered to her, leading them up to the front desk, "Hello, my name is G.M. Dark, this is my wife Daizi Wahid, and our children, Alec, Xander, and Ivy-Qadira."

"It's her birthday tomorrow," Daizi said sounding scantly more confident than she felt, "When she was born, she had to stay here for three weeks. We brought a gift basket because we want to thank everyone here who saved her life a year ago."
 
The woman at the desk looked them over. One blind woman with interesting facial features and a distinct way of dressing. One giant in what seemed to be either gothic funeral clothes or a high-level Dracula cosplay. Two boys, brothers at least and probably twins, one in all black except for a strange vest, and one in all colors wearing a matching vest. And one happy, healthy baby. This was not the strangest group she'd ever seen, but it was certainly up there.

She smiled and stood to shake their hands. "It is always a joy to see our former patients thriving! Not many people think to come back, not that I blame them. Thank you for coming."
 
Dark shook her hand and murmured to Daizi to let her know about the handshake, "It felt important to us. We do not want to take up too much of your time."

Daizi nodded, squeezing tightly to her husband, trying to block out the sounds of beeps and the scent of cleaning supplies and trying to remember all of the things she had planned to say, "We wouldn't be here now if it weren't for you all. Thank you."
 
Alec stepped forward and presented the basket to the woman. "Mama made all of this specially."

The woman took it with great seriousness and carefully set it on the desk. "Thank you very much. This is greatly appreciated. Was there anyone in specific you wanted to speak to? A doctor or a nurse? I can get them if they are on duty."
 
Dark and Daizi both paused, thinking about it deeply. "I'm sure they're busy, in a place like this," she answered, "I don't want to pull them away from their work. I wouldn't have wanted them distracted while Ivy was here. But there was this one nurse... She did a lot for us."
 
"Do you remember her name? It is not too busy right now," the nurse assured Daizi. She tapped on her computer. "Or if you don't remember her name, you can give me yours and I can check in your file."
 
"My name is Daizi Wahid, her name is Ivy-Qadira Wahid-Dark," Daizi answered, "but I think she her name was..." She frowned, rubbing her head, knowing she knew it and would easily remember it if it wasn't for the scent of the place, "She just, she always explained what she was doing before she did it, and talked through it during, because I couldn't watch."
 
The nurse tapped away for a moment before nodding with a smile. "I'll page her." She stepped away to do that and returned to the desk. "She'll be here in just a few minutes." She leaned over and cooed at Ivy. "Happy Birthday, Ivy-Qadira! Happy Birthday!"
 
Ivy babbled happily at the woman, her hands wrapped tightly in Daizi's hair, barely stopped from trying to eat it as she looked curiously at the hospital.

"Normally I'm better at small talk," Daizi mumbled, knowing that was normally her responsibility since Dark wasn't that kind of man, but she couldn't while here.
 
"That is perfectly alright," the nurse assured her calmly. "A lot of emotions get brought up when returning to places like this. It is understandable that you would be dealing with... some things. I think it is quite brave of you to have come back like this."
 
Daizi nodded politely, appreciating the empathy and knowing this woman didn't know the half of it.

Soon enough an older woman came around and when she saw who was standing there, her eyes widened. "Is that the Wahid-Darks?" She asked, hurrying over.

"Maharban Nurse Robin," Daizi said, suddenly remembering her name, "You remember us?"

"Of course I do, it's not every day I see a family quite like yours," She smiled warmly, "Goodness, is that Ivy-Qadira? She's gotten so big! Oh, you've always been a pretty girl, but you look so healthy now."

"It is her birthday tomorrow," Dark told her, "We brought a gift basket for you all. We wanted to thank you."
 
Alec and Xander stood back watching, both immensely pleased that in this sea of people she must deal with every day, she remembered this family and this baby. It was amazing!
 
Nurse Robin spent some time with the family, briefly holding Ivy, asking polite questions about how she in particular was doing, followed by the rest of them, and soon enough she had to leave.

Dark and Daizi thanked her again, as well as the woman behind the counter, and then, looking down, Dark asked, "Are you two ready to leave?"
 
"Let's go." Daizi said, holding Dark's arm and already turning in the direction of the door. She was truly glad she had come, she didn't regret it, but she wanted to leave before she reached her limit.

"Alec, would it be easier on you if we dropped you off at work now or do you need to go home first?" Dark asked, checking the time. If they dropped him off at work now, he'd be early. If they went home, he'd have an awkward amount of time to kill.
 
Alec brightened a little. "Are you going to come in? He'd love for you to say hello!"

"As long as I don't have to stay and help," Xander said, wiggling out of his vest and handing it to Alec.

"I thought we'd see more babies," Alec remarked, folding the vest carefully.
 
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