How Green Becomes Wood

"Just leave everything wet in the hall," Dark said, adjusting the blanket so Daizi could get up.

"It's because I'm about to qualify as an elite athlete," Sloan teased her friends before thanking Dark and Daizi for inviting her in.

"Anyone who does not disrupt my plans is very welcome," Dark told her.
 
"We've never done anything but disrupt their plans, but they still welcome us for some reason, so I'm sure you're fine," Alec told Sloan with a grin.

Xander sauntered after Daizi, blowing lightly on his hands. "Did the mini enjoy?"
 
"And that's how I become the favourite," Sloan replied, lightly nudging him, "and I'm not even theirs."

"She did, yeah," Daizi smiled, pouring milk into a pot and putting it on the stove, "She's napping now, and I think very glad to be back where it's warm. We'll definitely end up taking her out more. Or we'll have others do it for me."
 
Alec gasped in mock offense and put a hand to his chest. "Has this been your plan all along? To replace me?" he demanded.

He smiled a little, thinking of how, for the first time, he'd been able to actually hold Ivy. He hadn't done it well, but he thought it counted. "Do you want any help with the cocoa?" Xander asked. "I wonder how Cooger's doing with Lex and Toby."
 
"It's my ultimate end goal to be adored by the parents of every single one of my friends," Sloan laughed, "But how do you know I'm not actually replacing Xander?"

"If you'd like to help you can. Would you get out the baker's chocolate and the sugar?" She asked, "I'm sure they're shivering to their teeth and having an amazing day. How was holding Ivy?"
 
"Because, while you and I might be friends, you and he are far closer friends," Alec replied. "You'll get along smashingly!"

"Weird, but cool," Xander replied. He fetched the requested items and set them carefully at Daizi's elbow. "She's heavy."
 
Sloan chuckled, "That's smooth. I like that. I thought you were declaring yourself the favourite."

"Last time we weighed her she was twenty-two pounds," Daizi said, breaking off the chocolate pieces and dropping them into the pot, "It's a far cry from the five pounds she was at birth."
 
"Oh, I absolutely am that!" Alec said cheerfully, choosing to ignore the current issues they'd been working through for the sake of the joke. "But that does not change my point about friendship strengths."

"She's really growing, that's for sure," Xander agreed.
 
"Whatever you say," She teased, letting her hair out of the bun she had it in to protect her curls and fluffing out her hair. Obviously joking, she said, "Just as long as I'm the favourite friend I'm satisfied. Your parents favourite of your friends, I mean."

"It won't be as rapid now as it was in her first year, which is great, considering how quickly we went through clothes for her," Daizi smiled, "Will you get the cinnamon?"
 
"I'm pretty sure you are," Alec mused, thinking over the list of friends. "Of course, you have the benefit of seniority!"

Xander fetched the cinnamon and handed it over. "What are you going to do if anyone is ever allergic to cinnamon?"
 
"Good, that's where I belong," She grinned.

"Make it without it, I suppose," Daizi replied, adding it in before getting the cardamom and adding a bit of that too, "I don't use it that much, it's just nice in chocolate."
 
Alec giggled and took her hand, leading her into the kitchen before releasing it. "Do you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?" he asked, going to get them. "We do."

"I was just thinking of how much spice we use, especially cinnamon," Xander said, watching Alec and Sloan. "Stop pulling her around like a puppy, man. What are you two talking about?"
 
"I like a few marshmallows but I can never overload it, too many marshmallows make me feel sick," Sloan replied, allowing herself to be led, "I generally go more for whipped cream."

"My country may have been colonized by the British but we don't cook like them, habibi," Daizi said with a crooked grin.

"We were just talking about how I want to be every parents' favourite of their children's friend group," Sloan said, "and we were talking about marshmallows."
 
Xander looked at Daizi blankly, not quite sure how to respond to that or really how the statement was connected. Then he turned his attention to Sloan. "How is that going for you? Have you managed success on all fronts?"

"I don't even know all of your friends to know if you'd be telling the truth or not," Alec mused. "How about Becky's parents? And Claire? And Peter's? And, um, that other girl I see you with sometimes, um, Ruby?"
 
"I haven't met Rumy's parents, and I've only met Becky's the once," Sloan replied, "I am Claire's parents' favourite but I'm at a disadvantage with the Hollises because they're over here all of the time."
 
"Good point," Alec said. "We're just going to have to get you in the same room as the Hollis adults sometime!"

"I'm sure one time will be all it takes," Xander said dryly to Alec.
 
"Speaking as a parent," Daizi chimed in with a little chuckle as she began pouring the hot chocolate into different mugs, "The trouble with your plan is if the parents are friends with each other, the other parent's child is always preferred."

"That is exactly what I was afraid of," Sloan said.
 
"No, she's saying she likes Mrs. Hollis more than she likes my mom," Sloan replied.

"I will neither confirm nor deny my preferences," Daizi replied, taking out the whipped cream and adding it to two of the mugs, a bit messily, before adding a few marshmallows to only one, "You all can add whatever toppings you like, but the hot chocolate itself is ready."
 
"Thanks, Mama!" Alec chirped, giving her a careful hug. "You make the best hot chocolate."

"This is true," Xander agreed, selecting a mug. "Hmm. Marshmallows, or whipped topping?"
 
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