How Green Becomes Wood

Alec sniffled a little but managed not to cry. He felt a lot better having finally and officially apologized to his father. He didn't want to let go from the hug, but he also knew how hard it was for Dark to be physically affectionate like this. So, with a final squeeze in return, he reluctantly let go and stepped back. "Thank you, Ba, for always being there," he said softly.
 
More than anything else during this talk, that made Dark's throat tighten, although he still could not cry. Pulling Alec back into a close hug he says, "Of course you can, Albuma. Of course you can."
 
Alec hugged him back, not knowing exactly why or how deeply his request had struck Dark, but knowing that had been the right thing. For both of them. He hugged Dark back, this time waiting until Dark loosened his grip to let go. He moved his chair so he could watch out the window and sat there with Dark, watching the snow fall in silence. For him, it was a better silence. Lighter and quiet, not heavy and dark.

After about forty minutes or so, Alec sleepily stumbled back up to bed and soon fell asleep snugged up in his bed. He still hurt inside and felt the weight, but less. Things were going to be better. Eventually.
 
Alec wanting to stay there with him did help Dark some. Unfortunately, just like his son, there was more he was struggling with than just their fight, but it helped to know he was not despised by any of his children. He still didn't sit, and still never fully relaxed, but at least some of the cruel reprimands in his mind could be quieted for the time being.

After Alec went back to bed, Dark switched off the oven light and stayed downstairs for maybe twenty minutes longer before he, too, went upstairs, and crawled into bed beside his wife. She woke slightly when she felt his weight next to her again, but when his arms encircled her and his lips pressed against her shoulder, she fell back asleep easily. Come morning, she wouldn't remember she had been woken at all. It took some time, but eventually he, too, fell asleep for the night.
 
Last edited:
The next morning, Xander was up first and staring out the window at the snow. No running today, he thought grimly. No way was he running through that! Instead, he went downstairs for some exercise and then upstairs for a shower.

Alec woke while Xander was downstairs exercising, and it took him a while to realize the snow had stuck. He was wandering sleepily to the kitchen when he looked out the window and saw the snow. His eyes widened. Snow! He let out a gleeful squeal and dashed to the window to look out.

Xander came up from the basement, and Alec caught him by the shoulders. "Snow!"

"Yes, yay, white, cold, slippery water falling from the sky like it does every year," Xander said, nodding as he gently pushed Alec's hands off.

"But it's snow!" Alec squealed happily.

Xander rolled his eyes and shook his head before heading for the shower.
 
Even though the heat was already on, when Daizi woke up, she felt the cold change in the air and snuggled close to her husband. "Ivy is going to be awake soon," Dark told her groggily. "I need to start breakfast."

"I don't care," Daizi replied, wrapping her legs around him, "it's too cold."

Dark groaned, rolling onto his back with Daizi clinging to him like a koala and pulled the bed curtains back, "Oh. It snowed."

"That's why you shouldn't get out of bed," She grumbled, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. Dark lifted up his phone to check the time. Ivy would be awake soon, but she wasn't yet. So he wrapped his arms tightly around his wife and pulled the blanket close to keep her warm.
 
Alec was standing staring out the back door at the snow when Xander wandered in, his damp hair standing out in awkward spikes. "What are you doing?"

"Snow means a new season. A new season means new everything else," Alec said firmly. "Where are Mama and Ba? They should be up by now!"

"They'll be up when Ivy gets them up," Xander replied dryly.
 
When Ivy woke up, Dark and Daizi heard her babble to herself over the monitor. Daizi grumbled again, dreading the cold bed. She knew she had to get up and be a mom, but the bed was so big and cozy and the floor was going to be so cold.

"You are so adorable," Dark told Daizi, sitting up, which forced her up too, since she was holding onto him like a backpack.

"You're so warm."

"I will get you your softest robe."

"The robe will be cold."

He couldn't help but laugh softly, slipping out of her grasp. Then he slipped out of his shirt and pulled it over her, "I will put it on the towel heater. Then after I bring Ivy here to nurse, I will bring it to you."

"fine." She scowled, but broke into a grin when he kissed her forehead before standing and leaving to get Ivy. It was cold outside of their bed, but one of them had to be brave.
 
Xander, with no help at all from Alec, started putting breakfast together. His stomach waited for no mother or father or sister. It certainly didn't wait for snow! Alec danced around in his sleepwear and got every view of the snow he could.
 
Eventually and with great effort, Dark and Daizi both made it downstairs. By then Daizi, who was absolutely in the fluffiest robe she owned, was telling Ivy all about the snow. Dark was still dressed like he always did.

"You don't remember the snow!" Daizi was saying sweetly to Ivy, who had also been put into warmer clothes, "You were so so little when you saw it the first time!"
 
Alec came dashing over to them, arms held open wide. "Snow!" he squealed happily. "It's snowing! And it stuck! Ivy, we can go sledding! And drink hot cocoa with marshmallows!"

"As if that's ever stopped you before," Xander said dryly as he cautiously flipped the eggs-in-a-frame he was cooking. "It could be ninety degrees and you'd drink cocoa with marshmallows."

"Only large mallows," Alec rebuked. "Now is the time.... for small mallows!"

"Oh, for the love of bacon," Xander grumbled.

Alec grinned at his parents and then frowned. "Mama, are you wearing two shirts?"
 
"We do get to take her out to experience the snow," Daizi said, nuzzling Ivy's head with her cheek before setting her down in her high chair while Dark went to make coffee. Then she answered Alec's question, "I am, yes."

"I am going to need to shovel the driveway today," Dark sighed, glancing out at the front yard.
 
"You must be really cold!" Alec said. "Don't worry. Hot chocolate for breakfast will warm you up!"

"You mean it'll warm you up," Xander remarked. "I'm not making it." To his father, he said, "I've got eggs going, and I've already fried up bacon. What else do you want for breakfast? And I can scramble eggs for breakfast."

"Mama, do you want hot cocoa for breakfast?" Alec offered as he went to fetch the stuff he needed for the cocoa.
 
"I'll stick with tea for now, thank you," Daizi said, "I'll have hot chocolate after we come in from the snow."

"What you have made is fine enough, thank you," Dark said, making a plate for Daizi first and bringing it to her.

"You're right, though, Alec," Daizi grumbled, turning to scowl at her husband, "I am cold. But somebody said we need to get out of bed."
 
"Who, Ivy?" Alec grinned. "It's a good thing, too! We need to enjoy the snow while it lasts! Or, rather, while the enjoyment of having snow lasts. We're all going to hate it soon enough."

"I already hate it," Xander voiced as he plated up some eggs for Ivy and Daizi. He handed the plate to Dark to put on the bacon from the plate on the counter where it was draining off its grease. He plated up some eggs and bacon for himself and Alec and put on the last eggs for Dark. He stood babysitting them until they were ready, munching on a piece of bacon, and then handed them over to Dark.
 
"It was absolutely Ivy," Dark said, almost indignantly as he sat down to eat after giving Ivy her food, "Were it not for her, we could have slept in."

Daizi pouted, truly mourning her ability to sleep in late wrapped around her husband. They'd have to cuddle extra hard that evening to make up for it. And Dark would have to get in the cold bed first so it'd be warm for her. That was the law. Then, shaking it off, she smiled and said, "In a little bit we can bundle Ivy up and take her out in the snow for the first time, but she won't be able to stay out for too long."
 
"Awesome!" Alec grinned. He started eating his breakfast without complaint.

Xander heaved a long-suffering sigh. "I suppose if it must be done, it must be done. Do we have a sled hidden away somewhere?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top