How Green Becomes Wood

Even though it was cheesy, Daizi still waited for the twins to thank Ivy so she could encourage her to "say" you're welcome, even though she didn't understand anything transpiring.

They both complimented the presents Peter bought them and when Daizi opened her present from Alec it took her a bit of time to understand it. She wasn't sure if it was something she'd be able to make sense of, she was excited to give it a go.
 
"I was doing some reading, and, apparently, there are some groups of the blind that put braille messages into their weaving, and others that create abstract and raised art with it," Alec told her. "I thought you would have a lot of fun with the different textures."

"That is going to be a world of knots," Xander said in amusement.
 
"I think you'll be real good once you get the hang of it," Xander told her.

"One last gift for Ba, I think," Alec said, digging out the last gift and handing it to Dark. "This one is from me. I know it's not particularly special, but I thought it might be useful."

It was another beanie hat with speakers, like Xander's. It was even less Dark's style than it was Xander's, but it fit comfortably and had very good speakers without completely drowning out what was happening around the person wearing them.
 
"You're welcome!" Alec smiled, relieved. His gifts were not as touching or as impressive as the gifts Dark and Daizi had given them, but he supposed not every gift had to be the best gift ever. Sometimes it was okay to just have a nice, thoughtful gift. And he'd managed to do (mostly) useful gifts! Not just random knick-knacks. He was proud of that.

"I think that's everyone and everything," Xander said with a yawn.
 
Dark stood and began gathering up all of the wrapping paper except for what Ivy was currently playing with, "Help clean up down here before you run off to nap. We still have guests coming over later."
 
"I ain't napping!" Xander complained. He gathered up everything and partially folded the paper so it would compress better.

"Ba, you have to stop wrapping gifts so beautifully," Alec sighed, holding up the paper from his gift. "They look so good, and I'm actually sad to tear them apart! Despite the fact that the gift inside is awesome."

Xander chased down the small bits that had managed to escape and put them in an empty box. "You do a pretty good job wrapping."
 
"Excellent!" Alec grinned. "Oh, wait. Oh no! Enkidu didn't get a gift!"

Xander left the box with a couple of large pieces where Ivy could play with it and picked up all the little pieces to throw away. He convinced her to trade him a big piece for a little piece before she could try to eat it and made certain everything was all picked up. Once he was finished with that, Alec brought out the vacuum and got up every last pine needle. It didn't take too long, and soon it was as if Christmas morning had never happened! Other than the toddler playing with leftover wrapping paper.
 
"We have a nice new bone for him," Daizi assured Alec, "but we're waiting to give it to him until company comes over. He hates being put upstairs but we're still pretty sure your aunt would explode if he shed on her."

"Or worse, licked her," Dark added.

"So we'll give him his nice big treat to keep him distracted," Daizi concluded, "Just don't tell him."
 
"Oh my goodness, I think if Enkidu licked Aunt Ciara, her mind might freeze up like an overloaded computer!" Alec giggled.

"I wonder what her house looks like," Xander mused. "White and grey, maybe?"

"I think windows and maybe beige, but she does wear a lot of dark blue," Alec remarked.

"Definitely hair free," Xander concluded.

"I hope she at least has a fish tank," Alec worried. "Or a favorite plant."
 
"One day, we may see it," Dark replied, continuing to tidy. This whole week he had set himself to task cleaning everything which could possibly be cleaned because company was coming and he wasn't going to be found lacking, but now the day was here and he had to be absolutely certain everything was in its proper place.

Daizi picked up the presents she could find and set them on the coffee table before scooting to keep Ivy occupied so she didn't immediately mess everything her father tidied, "We bought her a Christmas present this year."
 
"Really?" Alec asked brightly. "That's so kind! What did you get her? Or do I have to wait to see?"

Xander picked up his gifts and took them downstairs to put them away properly and find good homes for them. He'd return once he decided what to do with new hat. He didn't have a spot for beanie hats.
 
"It is a nice pen and a bottle of ink," Dark said simply, looking about the living room for a few moments before nodding in satisfaction and going to fetch his coat and shoes so he needed to bring his mini table saw out to his shed.

"I think she'll really like it," Daizi said, sitting back while Ivy stood up to play with the bead maze on top of her new activity cube.
 
"I bet she will," Alec agreed.

Alec fetched his new items and took them upstairs where he resolved to try to find a good spot for them right away instead of setting them down immediately on the first clear surface. He had things neat and tidy for perhaps the first time ever, and, even better, had managed to keep them that way for the past three days. There were partially finished projects still sitting out, three in total, but they were situated along one wall on a table with the clear intention of returning with the supplies neatly lined up next to them. Everything else was neatly stored in bins under his bed or under the table, and his closet was... passable. He decided to allow himself a messier closet as long as he could still find things and nothing was just laying about on the floor. That seemed a reasonable compromise. He laid his junk journal on the project table because he wanted to look more at it later, but he also made certain to find a spot where it could go on the bookshelf. Everything else went neatly to its place.

Once he was finished, he went downstairs right as Xander was coming upstairs, and both asked if they could help with any tidying for their father's sake or looking after Ivy for their mother's.
 
As soon as the twins offered, they were handed a cloth and bottle of cleaning solution and were sent to clean the light switches and door handles. They were those small details he preferred to have clean but were ones he was willing to sacrifice with how busy his life was now.

The whole time, he kept an eye on the clock so he knew when to get ready, when to trade Ivy so she could get ready, and when it was time for them both to cook.
 
"Let's hope if Ivy ever gets married, she won't choose to have the wedding or reception here," Alec murmured to Xander as he scrubbed a light switch.

"No birthday parties here, either, for any of us," Xander agreed quietly, wiping the door handle.

"Or graduation parties," Alec added.

They gave each other a nod and split off to conquer the invisible smudges.
 
With the extra help cleaning and Daizi being available, Dark was able to feel satisfied with how clean the house was and Daizi was able to get the appetizers started and lunch on the table in a timely manner. After she ate, they were able to put Ivy down for her nap, which gave them time to catch their breath and dressed. She should be waking up just before their guests arrived, so after helping Daizi with her foundation and eye makeup, Dark went to take a shower.

While he was, Daizi applied lipstick, did her hair, selecting the golden sun hair pins Dark had bought her, and dressed herself in a dress her husband didn't know about. When the door opened, she got up and walked over to him and rested her weight on one hip, "Goose, what do you think of this dress? Does it look nice?"

Dark halted, seeing how the green velvet fabric enveloped her, "I think it looks like the desire to ruin your lipstick."

With a coy little smirk, Daizi ran her fingers along her lower lip and held them up to her husband to show her lipstick didn't budge. A few fierce moments later, Dark tucked a lock of hair back behind her ear and said, "The gold snakes along your neckline..." He sighed, tracing his finger along one, "I wish I did not need to get ready."

"Dress to match me," Daizi grinned, walking away from him to pick her jewelry, "Mm. You should ask the twins if you should wear green or red, those are the Christmas colours aren't they?"
 
Xander had gotten dressed in his nicest black pants and black turtleneck, wearing his purple suit jacket over top and accenting with leather items. He kept his earings a little more simple today, but he did wear one of his favorites that dangled and twinkled.

Alec was dressed in green pants, red shirt, his new belt, and gold accents with a thin, white scarf. Everything was solids rather than patterned like usual, but he definitely embodied Christmas colors. He bounced around making certain everything was perfect, humming happily as he put the latest round of Christmas presents under the tree.
 
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