How Green Becomes Wood

With the actual ceremony now, Daizi's friends who called in the corners stood to dismiss them so the whole party could move to the dining room. Art was cheering with his usual flamboyant exuberance and Amty Zeinab, representing all of the women in Daizi's family, did her duty and gave a hearty zaghrouta. Absolutely beaming, Daizi squeezed Dark's arm, not even knowing what was next, too deliriously happy to think straight.

Luckily, Dark had just enough wits left to him to guide her first to their children, because there were teenagers to praise and a baby girl desperate to be held by her parents.
 
Alec handed Ivy to Daizi and waited for Ivy to get a head start hugging her before wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so happy for you both!" He turned to Dark and him, too. "So proud of you! It's so wonderful!" He started crying from happiness.

Xander clasped Alec's shoulder gently but waited to speak.
 
"Oh habibi," Daizi said, her voice breaking as she wrapped one arm around Alec since she was holding Ivy in the other, "If you cry I'll be crying, and we still have a party to attend!" She squeezed him in to her, nearly trapping him in the layers of her dress, "Thank you so much for helping us. It really means so much."
 
"Sorry, Mama," Alec sniffled. "I'm trying to stop." He pulled away slowly, mostly to make sure he didn't tear her dress or get caught in it. "You looked so beautiful and in love." He pulled away fully and used a tissue to clean up.

Xander waited a moment and then stepped forward and shook Dark's hand. Then he gingerly hugged Daizi, not tightly, just enough for her to feel it.
 
"You don't have to apologize," Daizi replied, caressing his cheek for a moment, "I felt beautiful. And we are in love."

Dark shook Xander's hand firmly, nodding proudly at him. When Xander hugger her, Daizi's eyes immediately filled with tears and she blinked up at the ceiling to try to stop from immediately sobbing at him hugging her. Very lightly, she touched his back and his hair and just whispered, "Thank you."
 
"I don't know if she will let you," Daizi admitted, nuzzling her cheek against Ivy's hair, "but we will mingle nonetheless."

"Come," Dark said, placing his hand on the small of her back. He hated mingling but this was the trade off of having the ceremony.
 
"We'll stick close by in case you need us to take Ivy, or at least keep track of her," Alec assured her.

Sally was waiting to congratulate Daizi, but she was holding back so Daizi's immediate family could get to her first.
 
As far as Daizi knew, only Zeinab and Neha were there, so one person from her mother's side and father's side were represented. Of course, they ran up to her in delight, and she hugged them as tightly as she could holding a baby while they kissed her cheek. When they turned to Dark, he bent a very long way down so they could kiss his cheek. After chatting for a time, Dark led them over to Sally and her family
 
Jack offered his hand to Dark and smiled but didn't say anything, mostly because Sally was saying everything for them both. Peter also offered his hand for Dark.

"I am so happy for you, Daizi, darling! It was such a beautiful, touching ceremony, and Mr. Cooger did such a wonderful job! Your vows, both of them, I don't think there is a single dry eye here," Sally gushed, unable to help herself. She grapsed Daizi's arms lightly as she talked, wanting to hug her but not wanting to crush her or her dress.
 
"Thank you," Daizi replied, beaming, holding Sally's arm with her free hand, "I knew Cooger would do beautifully, he doubted himself but I never doubt him. And the vows were so much harder to write than I expected them to be. There was just too much to say, I didn't know how to organize it."
 
"You did very well," Sally assured her. "Both of you. It was truly wonderful! And I had never seen some of those things you did, though I had heard of the handfasting."

Lex hung to the side of the room, not really knowing anyone here, and amusing herself by watching the crowd. There were a lot of very nice outfits. These people clearly understood Dark and Daizi's aesthetic desires!
 
"It was what was in my heart," Daizi said, letting go of Sally to take her husband's arm again, stretching up to kiss his cheek, grinning for a moment from the joy about being able to kiss him again.

Having since composed himself, Cooger made his way to Lex, "We'll be getting to dinner soon."
 
"It was beautiful," Sally said one last time. "I should cease monopolizing your time and let you greet your other guests. Thank you for letting me attend and bear witness to your renewal."

"Alright," Lex said amiably. "You did a good job." She indicated Spencer with a subtle gesture of her hand. "That lady's rocking the tux. Didn't even cross my mind I could wear something like that. If I ever get invited to another shindig like this. maybe I'll give it a try. What do you think?"
 
"You are who first suggested it," Daizi replied, "I should be thanking you. I think it brought us closer together. And I got to wear this dress," She ran a hand down the bodice, "I never thought I'd enjoy a ballgown."

"And I was able to see her in that dress," Dark said coolly.

"That's Spencer," Cooger said, "Don't think I've ever seen her in a dress. I wouldn't mind if you wore a tux, it ain't my job to dictate what you wear."
 
"It is a beautiful dress," Sally agreed with a smile at Dark, amused. "And you are fetching, as always, Mr. Dark. Very well put-together."

Lex chuckled. "It sure as hell isn't, but that doesn't mean you can't have opinions and likes and dislikes," she said cheerfully.
 
"Thank you," Dark replied. He couldn't deny he loved how he looked that day, he felt truly and properly Goth. And he had worn water-proof eyeliner so none of it had smudged. "You look lovely as well." Turning his head, he briefly explained how Sally was dressed, including her hair clips.

Beaming, Daizi asked, "Did you wear those for me?"

"Well I think you'd look good in a potao sack so I really don't mind." Cooger replied, "So long as I'm the lucky guy at the end of the night to help you unbutton the suit."
 
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