How Green Becomes Wood

"We've got a step ladder," Daizi said, pushing her hair back with one hand and going to the living room, "This family overcomplicates everything. Ivy, habibti, we're just going to wait until all the boys figure their stuff out."

Sighing, Dark passed his hand over his face and said, "I will get the step ladder."
 
Alec watched them, confused. Why hadn't they tried the stepladder first? And wouldn't Ivy just look up the ladder - because it was new and interesting - and see the person on top? He didn't voice any of those thoughts, more than willing to see what happened next, and went to help Dark with the step ladder.
 
Cooger told Dark to put the stepladder outside so they could then mostly close the curtains, hiding the stepladder and the person holding it. The pole was long enough he could dangle it far enough into the living room that she wouldn't be able to grab the door. This was one of many previous attempts.

"Now I can't see, so y'all gotta tell me how to angle it." Cooger said.

"I can't help you there," Daizi teased, setting Ivy down on the floor.

"Let the line down a little bit."
 
"I won't fall, she ain't stronger than the biggest fish I caught."

Daizi laughed and held her two hands a large distance apart, "Cooger once caught a fish this big."

"No, Spider, it was bigger than that." Daizi increased the distance between her two hands and Dark shook his head, "It was still bigger than that."

"Yeah, that's what she said," Cooger teased right back.

"In front of our children?" Dark asked blandly.

Without missing a beat, Daizi said, "That is disgusting."

"We were discussing the largest fish you ever caught."

"You've only told the story a hundred times."

"I was making sure it was accurate."
 
"You should really be ashamed of yourself." Dark said, shaking his head even though Cooger couldn't see it. Then he sat back and pointed at the jingling toy suspended from a clead line, "Ivy, what is that? What do you see?"
 
Ivy babbled and crawled over to the toy, looking up at it. Sitting back, she reached up with her arms to try to grab at it, but when it was out of her reach, she crawled back first to her father, pulled herself up, and tugged on his sleeve, "Baba!" She said and pointed up at the toy.

"My darling girl," Dark cooed to her, smoothing her hair back with one hand, "Ivy can get the toy herself! Yes she can!"

She tugged on his sleeve again, pointing at the toy, and then when her Baba wouldn't get up, she crawled over to Daizi and did the same thing to her, "Mama! Mama!"

Daizi, at least, told the truth, "Ivy baby, Mama can't see what you want."
 
She was so darn cute!! And knew exactly who to go to to ask for help! Was quick to ask for help. Ivy was going to grow up so sweet and well-adjusted! Alec itched to help, but he knew he should stay back and let things take their course for now.
 
Ivy sat back with a grumpy, frustrated look on her face. Neither of her parents were helping? But she needed help! She tugged on Daizi's sleeve again and then crawled over to Alec, tugging on his sleeve.
 
Alec frowned. "Ack?" he repeated, not understanding at first. "That's a new one. Is that toy named Ack?" Then he gasped, paling slightly in repressed excitement. "Wait. Waitwaitwaitwait. Ivy, is that my name? Am I Ack?"
 
Alec could not say no, now. It was completely unfeasible. So, he swooped up Ivy and carried her over to the toy. "Ack to the rescue!" He crowed. He held her out so she could grab the toy on her own and then lowered her to the floor. "Success!"
 
"I knew she was clever, I did not know she was cunning." Dark mused, a faint light in his eyes. Just her saying that one little word made the weight of the day that much lighter.

"Aw hell, my plan!" Cooger fussed from behind the curtains, "Ivy, I thought we agreed you'd be saying my name next!"

"No, it's okay," Daizi laughed, "Reel her in, we'll do it that way!"
 
"I am totally okay with being manipulated, at least in this way," Alec giggled, snuggling her briefly before turning her loose. "She's so smart and clever! Don't worry, Uncle. I'm sure you'll be next."
 
"I better be," Cooger grumbled, peaking behind the curtain to make sure Ivy was set down but couldn't help and smile when he saw her happy little face. "Alright, Kitten, let's try and do two new things today."

Then let the curtain drop and began reeling the line back in. Ivy's eyes widened in surprise when the toy started lifting up and away from her. She held onto it for as long as she could but as it began to exit her hands she made the cutest little confused noise. First she pushed herself up onto her knees to hold it a little longer and then, as it started to leave her grip again, she kept trying to follow it. Without even realizing she had done it, she herself up to a standing position.

"Ivy-Qadira, you did it Tifla!" Dark said excitedly, "Well done, my dear girl!"

"She did it?" Daizi asked, "Cooger you can stop!"

Pulling the curtain back, Cooger grinned at the sight of his niece standing up all on her own there, "I told ya it'd work!"

Ivy looked around at all the excited faces, at the toys, and didn't understand what was the big deal.
 
Alec clapped enthusiastically. "Yay, Ivy! You're standing! Well done! Xander, get in here!"

Xander came in and looked around. "What? What happened? Oh, hey! You're standing! Nice job, Mini!"
 
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