How Green Becomes Wood

The twins were given permission to drive to the store, so long as they did it safely. It was really pleasant to sit together as a family in peace once more. The inside of the house was warm, cozy, and Ivy was always thrilled to be with her brothers. Getting to try new snacks was a great experience for her, although she spat some out.

After the movie ended, Dark excused himself and went off alone. There was something in this newborn peace which had begun to deeply gnaw at him, just as an animal consumes marrow from a bone. He needed a bit out time to himself to sort it out inside.
 
Xander made dinner when it was time while Alec looked after Ivy and helped her "help" make dinner. Xander set them to a lot of stirring and some mashing. It took at least twice as long to make dinner as a group than it would have done if Xander had done it by himself.
 
Ivy made a mess doing the mashing, but she had a great time during it. Being covered in nearly half the bowl was a feature of it rather than a minor regret.

The late dinner didn't bother Dark or Daizi much, and Ivy being occupied gave them a good rest, which was well needed.
 
As the day came to an end, the twins drifted apart, each moving toward their own interests. Xander finished up his homework and then sat stretched out on the couch reading before bed. Alec went up to his room and sat on the bed carefully braiding the last few strips for his rug. He allowed himself a nod of satisfaction at the look of his braid and then started sewing.
 
The next day after school, Daizi was upstairs in her office working hard. Downstairs in the kitchen, Dark was sitting on the floor with Ivy, who had a tightly sealed jar of... something and was having a great time shaking it.
 
The twins arrived home and called out their greetings as they shed their coats and shoes and touched the salt.

"Hi, Ba!" Alec greeted him, dragging his backpack behind himself. "Hi, Ivy!"

"What do you have?" Xander asked curiously, watching her shake it.
 
"Welcome home," Dark replied, looking up at him. Ivy turned, holding out her jar to show it off, trying to crawl to her brothers while still holding the jar, which didn't go quite so well. Looking at her, Dark said, demonstrating a shaking motion, "Ivy-Qadira, Hummingbird, shake the jar, show your brothers how good you can shake the jar!" Then, looking up at his sons said, "It is full of heavy whipping cream and a clean marble."
 
"Quite the method for making whipped cream," Xander said dryly. "I see you're already preparing her for child labor."

"Hush, you," Alec scolded and crouched down, holding out his hands. "Come on, Ivy! Try walking! That's much easier!"
 
Alec held out one hand to steady Ivy if she needed it and used the other to gently take the jar. "Ooo, look at that!" He shook it vigerously. "That's so cool! Should we give it to Xander?" He pointed at Xander.

Xander obligued by stepping forward but waited to see what Ivy would do about the suggestion.
 
"Xander, come over here!" Alec urged.

Xander sighed but came over and crouched. "Can I shake it?" he asked Ivy gravely, holding out his hand.

"I dunno, can you?" Alec muttered, earning himself a hard nudge.
 
Ivy looked at Xander and handed the jar to him. While watching to see what Ivy would do, Dark's phone began to ring and, not knowing the number, he answered it there. After a few moments though, he said, "One moment please," and then said to Alec and Xander, "Watch her for a moment, please," and then walked out of the room, heading upstairs.
 
Alec and Xander exchanged a confused and slightly worried glance, but then they focused on Ivy. Xander shook the jar in the most exaggerated way possible and pretended it tired him out before handing it to Ivy again.
 
Ivy took the jar back, which did look like it had gotten pretty solid after her playing with it for so long and began to shake it again. Really she just liked the sound of the marble bouncing around, but because it was solidifying, she couldn't hear it quite as much anymore, which was ruining the game for her a bit.
 
"Let's go get something else to play with," Xander said, offering to take the jar. "We can put that in the fridge for later."

Alec took the backpacks and set them near the stairs. "That sounds like fun! Right, Ivy?" He came to offer her his hands so she could walk herself to the kitchen.
 
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