How Green Becomes Wood

"That sounds like fine date. Dinner and then games," Lex purred. She leaned closer as if about to kiss him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Alec scolded, waving his hands at them as he approached. "You two do remember where you're at, right? And the bet you made with Ba and Mama?"
 
"Al'ama!" Dark swore, rubbing his hands over his face and through his hair, "They were that close!" He swore again, turning away as though his favourite sports team had fumbled and lost at the last minute.

"Can it, Blue Beard!" Cooger replied, blushing.
 
Lex laughed and stepped back from Cooger. "I guess we gotta be proper. I never was good at being proper."

Alec wagged his finger at Cooger. "I hardly think it's fair that you two get to play games when two others don't get to."
 
Cooger passed a hand over his face, just about ready to disappear into the floor.

Turning swiftly to Alec, Dark said, gesturing to Cooger, "This whole awful bet started because he can't manage to seal the deal! Do you want my suffering to be for nothing?"
 
"It's still Ivy's birthday party, not the place to challenge bets and the like," Alec told him. "And what are you and Mama doing anyway?"

Lex raised an eyebrow at Cooger. "Seal the deal? Bet?"
 
"What do you mean what are we doing?" Dark asked, crossing his arms, "We are enjoying our daughter's birthday party, and we have not broken any of the rules."

Cooger rubbed his hands over his face, "I told them that I don't need their relationship advice, and when I expressed this, I bet them that they could not last a month without having their tongue down each other's throats, and if they couldn't last the month, then I'd be free of their opinions for a month, that's the whole story."
 
"You are just standing there watching and then telling Mama all about it. It's weird, and vaguely vicarious," Alec frowned at them.

"Can't say I've heard that one before," Lex said, relaxing and amused now. "What happens if they do make it the full month?"
 
"It is not weird," Dark sniffed, taking Alec's arm gently and leading him away so Cooger and Lex wouldn't overhear, "and it is not vicarious. I simply noticed what was transpiring and your mother and I were supporting them from afar."

"Then we can't tease 'em for being so handsy with each other for a month. Xander suggested we four go on a double date, but I think Daizi'd probably be the only one who'd enjoy that, 'cause you and I'd need to sit and watch 'em flirt all evening and Dark don't like small talk." Cooger explained, crossing his arms, but then when he noticed how Lex had relax he furrowed his brows and looked at her differently, "You didn't think we'd She's All That, did you? 'Cause, they had all just been telling me I wasn't moving fast enough and a lady like you isn't gonna wait around. I was telling them it ain't none of their buisness."
 
"Uh-huh. Support," Alec said dryly. "Im sure Uncle Cooger really likes that kind of support. Alright, I guess you can get off with a warning. Meanwhile, I can't tell if Aunt Ciara needs rescuing from Mrs. Hollis or the other way around."

Lex laughed. "There's an old reference for you. I'd have said My Fair Lady, but I only saw it once under protest." She touched his arm lightly. "We're good. I don't know how well a double date would go, but I'd be happy to skip it. Or give them a taste of their own medicine if they are paying attention."
 
"I am keeping an eye on my friend's happiness," Dark replied, placing his hand over his heart before looking over at Ciara and Sally, "It may be a little of both."

"Dark is too competitive for that and Tarot is blind, it wouldn't go well for us," Cooger replied blandly, "To be fair to them, though, them teasing me about us is payback for all the shit I've given them."
 
Alec glanced at Dark. "So... are you going to do anything about it? Or Mama?" he prompted with a little smile, knowing how much Dark did not want to engage.

Lex shrugged. "Well, I guess turnabout is fair play." She glanced at her watch. "I should probably be heading home here soon-ish."
 
Dark looked at Alec and sighed heavily, "I had expected since you had mentioned it, you had signed yourself up for it." He turned and saw Daizi had found herself in a conversation with her family and ran his hand through his hair before walking up to Sally and Ciara, making himself charming, "I hope neither of you are offended by the lack of giftbags."

"I can walk you home, if you like, once you've said your goodbyes. Since it's such a long walk." Cooger replied.
 
Sally and Ciara both turned at look at Dark a little blankly. "Giftbags?" Sally asked, mystified.

"Is that a common thing to give out?" Ciara asked hesitantly.

"Alright," Lex agreed. She went to find Daizi first and tell her goodbye, congratulations, and thanks for having her over. She found Ivy next and stole her away from whoever was holding her long enough to give her a snuggle and a kiss before handing her back. Dark got a salute, as did Xander, and Alec shook her hand before she headed for the door.

Tristan saw Lex moving toward the door and took advantage of someone else leaving first to also say his goodbyes. He was exhausted and hurting, but he was also glad to have come.
 
"I read," Dark began as though he hadn't shared this with half the guests already, "It is proper etiquette, so guests would recall the event. The suggestion given was to include a coffee mug with the baby's face on it, or a magnet of them. I decided to choose poor etiquette over forcing such things onto our friends and family, seeing as I myself would not want such a cup."

Daizi made warm goodbyes to everyone while Dark only gave polite nods. When Lex was ready to go, Cooger pulled on his shoes so he could walk her home.
 
While Ciara was trying to fine the polite answer, Sally laughed and shook her head. "I would not hate a mug with Ivy's adorable face, but it is not something I would go looking for, no, and I cannot imagine everyone here wanting that, either. Gift bags at parties are not really a thing in England, so we had no expectation of one."

Lex exchanged a few polite words with Tristan as they walked down the front path, but when Tristan turned toward his car, she walked side by side with Cooger.
 
"I am glad to hear it. If anyone if disappointed to not have such an item, I would be glad to share a picture with them so they can print it themselves." Dark replied easily, really only making conversation to let whoever needed to escape the space to do so. As he did so, Amira approached Jack to request he take a photograph of the four generations of women in their family currently in attendance.

While they walked Tristan first to his car, Cooger strolled along with his hands in his pockets, but once they turned down the sidewalk towards Lex's house, he instead decided to hold hers.
 
"I am not disappointed at all," Sally assured him, amused, "but I am impressed by your dedication to your research."

Ciara politely bowed out and began slowly making her way toward the door, making conversation as she went to be mannerly.

Jack was happy to do pictures for them. He was not really one for posed pictures, but it was a common request, so he had gotten good at it so that if he had to do it, at least the pictures could potentially be works of art, too. He went looking for a good spot and when he found it, he asked the women to line up for him.

Lex accepted his hand and gave it the lightest squeeze.
 
"I do not recall the last time I have attended a first birthday party, I was not sure what they are meant to entail," Dark said simply, making a brief goodbye to Ciara and hoping she remembered to say goodbye to her nephews.

Given how many guests were Daizi's relatives, and how many relatives in attendance were women, a fairly significant proportion of the guests were suddenly very busy while Jack took pictures for them. Seeing them so occupied, Saladin fell in line besides his brother, "It's just like him to spend half the party away from his own child."

"The fish was good," Rashid replied under his breath, "but he could've started it sooner."

"It just demonstrates where his priorities are."

Cooger smiled softly, wishing it was a longer walk. At least by a little bit.
 
"It is whatever you want it to be in how you want to remember and how you want other people to remember this day. I think you did an excellent job," Sally said. "I am proud of what you have done here. I hope you are proud, too."

Ciara did take the time to say goodbye to both the twins, and then she slipped out to go an enjoy the peace and quiet of a long drive home.

~~

Xander hadn't meant to eavesdrop. He was just trying to get out of the way of the camera and those standing in front of the camera. The words caught his attention, though, and he turned to stare at Saladin and Rashid's backs. He wasn't supposed to make a scene. This was Ivy's party. Daizi would never forgive him if he made a fuss. He dug his nails into the palm of his hands and literally bit his tongue. He should leave, but he wanted to hear what they said next.

~~

Lex said nothing, content to walk in silence to her front porch. Once there, she turned to Cooger. "Want to come in for a sec? See what I've done to the place before you head back?"
 
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