How Green Becomes Wood

"I wish it was warm enough to sit outside," Dark replied, taking Alec's hand so he could stand up without jostling Ivy too much, then walked towards the living room since his couch was comfortable.
 
Xander headed for the kitchen to start dinner.

"I suppose we could always get an outdoor heater of some kind," Alec mused, following Dark. He waited until Dark was settled and then picked a spot close by but not too close, trying to give him supportive space.
 
Dark didn't say much as he sat on the couch. He wondered if Ivy was holding onto him because she could tell or if she was just in one of her cuddly moods. As he so often did, he also wondered how he'd tell her what had happened all those years ago. She was so innocent, it felt like taking it from her. Some day. After all, it was her story, too. And his sons, now, too. But they had struggled so much already and struggled to hear it anytime he did mention any part of his past.

He wanted to shield them, longed for the days when they thought he was invincible, and pondered if it was possible to let Ivy know, someday, without also robbing her of that comfort, like he had taken it from her brothers. There were some parts he knew he could never tell. Not to her. Parts he wished his sons didn't know.

And if Alec and Xander already struggled with what he'd seen, he didn't want an interview to force them to learn too much.
 
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Alec didn't say anything as he sat near Dark, trying to be still and quiet as his mind frantically ran on its hamster wheel of anxiety, running through all the scenarios of what could go wrong. He tried to steel himself and not let his mind get too carried away, but he was worried. He wanted Dark to be okay, and dredging up old, painful memories didn't seem like a great way to go about being "okay."

Xander focused on making dinner, simple comfort foods for them all, trying his best to bring out the warmth of the foods. Things were tough, and they were going to stay tough for a while, but good food that tasted like a hug from the inside could help strengthen mind and body against what was to come.
 
Dark knew, ultimately, he would not be okay that day. Tomorrow would be better. Maybe it would be. Today, though... The phone call had been confronting. He didn't have a chance to prepare himself, so he was left sitting there, trying to self-regulate as he struggled with what was best for him to do.

"Baba!" Ivy gurgled cheerfully, still cozy in his arms.

"Yes, my dear?" Dark asked softly, looking down at her, and once he did, she began babbling a long 'sentence' to him, and he sat there patiently, responding to her as if he understood anything she said, while holding her close. There was so much in fatherhood he didn't anticipate, somehow this was both something he feared and didn't expect to experience at all. Her eyes looked very much like her mother's, he thought, looking at her, but they were a bit lighter in colour. Dark wondered if it was because of him. After gently booping her nose, he looked over at Alec and said, "She has so much to say."

Daizi came downstairs the second her workday was over, which was almost to when dinner was ready, "Something smells good," She said idly, knowing she wanted to check on her husband without knowing what room he was in.
 
"She is very talkative," Alec agreed with a smile. "And she enjoys talking to you." He looked up when Daizi came down. "Hi, Mama! Ba and I were just talking about Ivy talking, and Xander's making dinner. How was work?"
 
Dark smiled softly, looking back at his daughter, "I like talking to her too."

"Work was busy," Daizi answered, standing in the hall between the living room and the kitchen, "We're getting started on a new research project, so we've all got our hands full. Xander, do you need any help?"

"Mama!" Ivy exclaimed, rolling over in Dark's arms and looking at her mom from upside-down.
 
"I'll go join them then," She said and walked to the living room, greeting everyone and heading to the couch since it sounded like that was where they all were, "Ivy, do you think it is playtime?"

"She has been cuddly," Dark told her, lightly touching Daizi's arm, "but it seems a matter of time before the wiggles get her again."
 
Daizi chuckled, leaning in towards them "Hummingbird, are you upside down? What are you doing upside down?"

"Maybe she wants to fly," Dark suggested, lifting her higher while keeping her upside down.

"Well she is a Hummingbird," Daizi agreed, "They can fly in any direction."
 
After a few minutes, Xander stuck his head in the living room. "Dinner's ready," he announced. "So come get it, all who want it."

Alec stood and headed into the kitchen. "I'll take some," he said with more assurity than he felt. He wasn't that hungry, but if he didn't eat, his parents would worry. So. Time to eat.
 
Despite feeling torn open, Dark stood up to go eat, 'flying' Ivy through the air as they went to her high chair. Despite his inner turmoil, he still was glad to be able to make her laugh.

Sitting down at the table, Daizi lightly touched the back of Dark's neck, so he knew he wasn't alone, and then settled in, "Did you both have a good day at school?"
 
"Yeah, it was pretty good," Xander confirmed. "Basic, ordinary day. Not much happened."

"An entire jug of milk spilled in the cafeteria, but the lunch ladies cleaned it up super fast. That was the most interesting thing to happen," Alec supplied.
 
"You're welcome. I figured something easy would be a good thing for today," Xander said with a little shrug.

"Maybe I should try making dinner one of these days," Alec suggested.

Xander raised his brows.
 
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