How Green Becomes Wood

Their disagreement mostly resolved, Daizi bent in and took Ivy into her arms, "Now, Hummingbird, finally it's your bedtime. I know, I know, it's late for you. It's very late for you." She kissed Ivy's forehead and carefully rose to her feet, "But Mama is still going to sing you your lullaby, I promise, my darling girl. My sweet lovely Ivy-Qadira."

When Daizi left the room, Dark lingered for a moment trying to remind himself of how seldomly his wife had led him astray and then went downstairs, accurately predicting his son's anxiety. He supposed he should make himself available for questions.

Inside the nursery, Daizi settled down into the rocking chair cradling Ivy with all the gentleness and love the most precious child in the whole world deserved and sang to her. Even after Ivy fell asleep, Daizi couldn't bring herself to lay her down in her crib. This time, a year ago, she was in her bedroom, suffering through worst physical pain of her life, too focused on survival to feel anything but what was happening in the moment. All her thoughts, a year ago, were bent on bringing this precious life into the world. Now here she was, sleeping peacefully, unaware of anything but what it was to be loved.

For thirty-four weeks, Ivy lived inside of her. Every second of every day, they were together for the better part of a year. And every day since then, multiple times a day, Daizi fed her from her breast.

"You're the best of me, Ivy-Qadira," Daizi murmured, stroking her thumb against Ivy's hair. It was funny. Her sons always accused their father of being wrapped around Ivy's finger, but it was Daizi who knew she'd give this child everything. She had already given her so much of her body. For thirteen years she waited, wracked with guilt and fear and disappointment. Then, last October...

Blinking away her tears, Daizi shifted her daughter closer to her heart, resting her cheek against Ivy's soft, black hair. At some point, she'd need to lie her down. At some point, she needed to take herself to sleep. But these were the last few hours where Ivy was less than a year old. Somehow, the turn of the clock seemed heavier than it had before. One day, they wouldn't have this type of bond. Their relationship would be something different, something new, but it wouldn't be this. She wouldn't rock her to sleep, anymore.

"Oh, but Hummingbird," Daizi whispered, shutting her eyes, "You'll always be my littlest baby."

It wasn't until Dark came to check on her, noticing his wife had yet to come to bed, that Daizi found the strength to get up and lay Ivy down, resting one hand on her heart to feel it beat beneath her palm, "Sweet dreams, habibti," She whispered, not wanting to walk away, "Tomorrow is your birthday. And you're going to have such a good day."

Bending over the rail of the crib her husband had built, Daizi gave one last kiss goodnight, and went with him to her own bed, the bed she had given birth in, and at last fell asleep.
 
Alec wanted to ask Dark questions, but he couldn't bring himself to. For one, he was afraid of the answers. For another, he didn't want to start another fight. For a third, Dark looked like he couldn't handle anything more today. Just this once, he'd leave it alone.

The pair went to bed after everyone else, and Daizi's absence was noticed. Why hadn't she come down? They left her alone, hoping it was for a good reason. Maybe she was resting. Maybe she fell asleep early. Good things could happen. After Dark went up and didn't come back down, they assumed that either everything was fine or Dark was making it fine and let it go. They made their bed on the couch and went to sleep.
 
Come morning, Zeinab was once more cooking breakfast for them, having more or less taken over all such household tasks while she visited. For once, Dark found it easy to wake up early, because he had been waiting many years to tell his baby happy birthday, and when her little cries came over the monitor, he and Daizi went into the nursery together, having been unable to decide who got to be the first to wish her a happy birthday. So they did it together.

Dark had carefully picked out a birthday outfit for her, but knowing she was only one year old, she'd surely mess it up before the party, so they decided to keep her in her pajamas for the time being. After she was nursed and satisfied, Daizi carried her downstairs happily cooing, "What a big day, Hummingbird! A whole year old!"
 
Alec and Xander were both in their pajamas as well, though they had folded up their bedding and made things clean and tidy. Alec grinned and threw his hands out wide. "Ivy! Happy birthday, Ivy!"

Xander waited for his turn and offered Ivy a fist bump. "Happy birthday, Mini."
 
Ivy gurgled excitedly, reaching out to Alec and giving Xander a fist bump after she had been transferred over. She had absolutely no idea why everyone was so, so excited to see her, but it made her really happy! And Daizi was absolutely beaming with pride.

"Eid milad saeed, Qadira!" Amty Zeinab said cheerfully, stretching up to kiss Ivy on the cheek because Alec was taller than her. Not by much, but both he and Xander were. Then she turned to her grand-niece and pulled her into a tight hug, knowing how much this milestone meant.
 
Alec danced Ivy around the room singing the birthday song to her cheerily.

Xander stayed out of the way to watch, smirking and nodding along to the song. "Today is going to be one wild day."
 
"It is a very important day," Dark nodded, a look of pride in his eyes, "but... Yes. I was doing research on how to make sure she would enjoy her own birthday party, rather than have it overwhelm her. There was, on a website, a list of suggested party favors. Do you know what one of the suggestions was?"

"Oh, this again." Daizi chuckled, going to make tea.

"Yes, this again," He replied, sitting down across from Xander, "It was ridiculous. Do you know what they earnestly suggested?"
 
"No, it suggested you include a mug with your baby's face on it." Dark replied, finding this idea completely absurd, "Now, I fully believe Ivy-Qadira is the most lovely baby in all the world, but with the exception of the Aunties and maybe Saladin, can you imagine any guest being excited to have a coffee mug with someone else's baby on it? Could you imagine your Aunt Ciara in her home feeling delighted to see Ivy's face in her cupboard every day? Even Sally would not want such a thing."
 
"I wouldn't want it," Xander agreed bluntly.

"Mrs. Hollis would totally want such a thing," Alec grinned, swooping Ivy lightly. "Aunt Ciara would just be confused. I think it's a great idea!"

"Most people would be confused," Xander agreed.
 
"You wouldn't want a mug with your sister on it," Daizi pretended to pout, "Poor sweet Ivy!"

"I really do not think she would," Dark disagreed, "Honestly, I do not think I would want that, and I am her father."

"Mm, I'd want one. Because how funny would it be if she brought a date to meet us and we served them coffee in a mug with her face as a baby on it?" Daizi grinned crookedly, "That's the real utility. Xander, would you want a mug with Alec's face?"

Zeinab chuckled, setting out breakfast for them, "Or a mug with a mirror on it, it would work out to about the same thing."
 
"I already have a mug with his face on it," Xander said without missing a beat. "Just like Amty said. I can't escape his face."

"I can't escape yours, either, ya mug," Alec said, sticking his tongue out at Xander.

"You're the bigger mug."

"No, you are because you have all the fancy muscles."
 
Daizi and Zeinab both laughed at the joke and Dark's eyes lit slightly in amusement. "Maybe I'll get a mug with all three of you on it to take home," Zeinab teased, "But you have to eat before you're more suited for a plate because there's not enough of you left to round out a mug."
 
"Yes, Amty," the twins agreed and moved to sit at their normal places. Alec gave Ivy a quick kiss and settled her into her seat before sitting down.

"Thank you for breakfast, Amty," Xander said.

"It is really good," Alec agreed. "Thank you for your efforts!"
 
"You have nothing to thank me for," Zeinab said, waving off their thanks and taking her seat, "That's why I'm here. Now. What exactly do you have planned for the party? I like the decorations you chose," She gestured, "The light blue and lavender is pretty."

"It does not quite work with the Halloween decor, but I liked the colours," Dark admitted, "Cooger is bringing the cake by later, and I need to go and collect the fish so I can prepare them."

"Cooger is also bringing a wagon, according to him, babies love it," Daizi added.
 
"Wagon? Really?" Alec asked, perking up. "What kind of wagon? A little bitty one? Or a bigger one?"

"Probably a small one. What were you thinking, Oregon trail kind?" Xander asked.

Alec raised a brow at him. "Would you put it past him?"

Xander could not argue that.
 
"All he's said about it is that it's red," Daizi answered, "I presume it's one you can pull and not one requiring oxen. We don't quite have space for something like that."

"Maybe not, but it'd be quite a statement," Zeinab chuckled, "Miss Qadira, are you excited to try sugar for the first time? You know, I've been wanting to sneak you a little bit of whipped cream, but one of your parents is always right there. Your Amty Zeinab wouldn't have made you wait so long, you remember that!"
 
Xander smiled a little to himself at the idea of Ivy in a little red wagon but kept his thoughts to himself. He wasn't sure he'd even get a chance to be near her today.

"Amtys are the best for spoiling the children just the right amount," Alec stated. "Not too much, just enough to make it extra special! Is this like what grandparents are supposed to do?"
 
"Of course it is," Zeinab replied, sitting back and watching them contentedly. It was nice to see so many smiles, especially with their matching clothes, "Unfortunately, all my siblings have passed on, so I'm filling in for them for their grandchildren. You three only have Saladin for a Jaddi and no Jadda. So I'll fill in too."
 
"Thank you, Amty," Alec smiled at her. "I am very grateful to have you in my life." He grinned at Ivy. "You will learn how amazing it is, too, but you'll have to get a little older first."
 
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