How Green Becomes Wood

Daizi laughed, delighted at Tristan's praise, "I'm not sure I can be called a maiden anymore, but I appreciate the sentiment. And it's from this musical called Anything Goes which came out in the 1930s, I think? It's a really fun soundtrack."

"You could sing the titular song from that show, I think," Dark said, always seeking to praise her.

"Probably, but it's a horrible song for karaoke because of the huge tap-break in the middle."
 
Xander stood and gave Alec's leg a nudge with his foot. "Come on. If you want to do a duet."

"Yes!" Alec chirped, jumping up. "Let's do this!"

They pulled up the song and debated on who would have wich lines. Then they started singing together, making Tristan tap his wheel as he was listening.

Xander:
If I were a rich man
With a million or two
I'd live in a penthouse
In a room with a view
And if I were handsome
([Alec] No way)
It could happen
Those dreams do come true
I wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have you
Wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have
Wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have
Wouldn't have nothin'

Alec:
Can I tell you something?
For years I have envied
([Xander] You green with it)
Your grace and your charm
Everyone loves you, you know
(Yes, I know, I know, I know)
But I must admit it
Big guy, you always come through
I wouldn't have nothin' if I didn't have you!
 
Daizi grinned as the twins sang and clapped along when it sounded nice. Beside her, Dark watched in his quiet, contented way while lightly drumming along on Ivy's back.

At the end, they both clapped and Daizi asked, "What is that song from?"
 
"A movie called Monster's Inc.," Alec said proudly. "It's sung at the end between the two friends who have been kind of fighting in the movie despite their long-standing friendship. One, the one Xander claimed, is a giant, hairy monster, and the one I sang is basically a little, green walking eyeball."

"I have vague memories of that movie," Tristan mused. "I can't remember much except that it had something to do with a bunch of doors."

"Closet doors are their access to the human world," Alec explained. "They have a whole factory devoted to the making of them and stuff."
 
"I think I've heard of that movie, but I can't recall if I've ever seen it," Daizi said.

"A few times Cooger has suggested we all take a trip to Disney," Dark said, his eyebrows furrowed, "as much as I enjoy roller-coasters, I am really not sure it is the place for me."
 
"That would be so fantastic!" Alec grinned, his eyes lighting up.

"Absolutely not, no thank you," Xander said flatly. He quickly tried to change the subject before someone tried to make plans to go to Disney. "Is anyone singing next, or are we done here?"
 
Daizi turned to her husband silently, and he shifted uneasily. He really, really didn't want to sing, he hated singing in front of people, but he also knew everybody wanted him to.
 
"I think one time was quite enough for my first time," Tristan said easily. It was not in any way obvious, but he was watching Dark out of the corner of his eye. "This really has been a marvelous, but I think I am about sung out. That said, I don't want to cut anyone else's fun short."

"Nah, not mine," Xander said. "I think I'm good this round."

Alec looked at Dark hopefully but gave up when he saw how uncomfortable he was. "I could keep going, but maybe we should stop while we're ahead. That way, we'll look forward to coming back sooner!"
 
Dark sat, conflicted between his desire to never, ever disappoint his children and his discomfort with the thought of everybody staring at him. He knew it didn't make sense why he had stage-fright, given how much attention he got just for existing. But it made him feel vulnerable.

After a few moments, not looking up, he said, "I do not even know what I would sing, were I to."
 
"There are a fair few good songs that sound excellent in your register," Tristan remarked, "but it is a hard pick. Maybe you could think about it for next time when you've had more time to consider your options."

"As long as it's not Hellfire. Ivy might not like it," Alec giggled.
 
Dark took a breath, doing his absolute best to steel his nerves and agree to sing, but he couldn't quite get himself there, and with an, admittedly frustrated sigh, because he wanted to be able to say yes, he said, "Yes, maybe next time I will be prepared with a song. I am sorry to disappoint."
 
"Of course not!" Tristan assured him. "It just makes the eventual reveal of your singing voice that much better."

Alec grinned and opened the door for them. "True! Maybe next time. This was a lot of fun. Possibly the second-best time I've had yet."

"What was the best time?" Xander asked.

"That time when we went to that weird little store with Sloan," he said brightly.
 
"It was a lot of fun," Daizi grinned, "My favourite was Ivy's attempt at a song. She has a very intense style!"

"It was good to spend this time," Dark agreed, making sure he had collected everything of Ivy's so nothing important was forgotten.
 
"Thank you for inviting me to this," Tristan said to Dark and Daizi. "I never would have thought to try this in a million years."

"Maybe in a million years you would have thought of it," Alec said, moving ahead to open the doors for everyone.
 
"Thank you for singing with me," Daizi smiled at him and after they finished their goodbye, they all piled into the car and drove home. Before they even made it, Ivy had fallen fast asleep in her car seat.

"I didn't know you know so many Disney songs," Daizi commented on the drive.
 
"We had CDs of Disney's greatest hits, and when we were little, that's all anyone would sing," Alec explained with a shrug. "I don't think we've even seen Cinderella or... whatever the movie is that Prince song Xander sang is from. I saw part of Frozen, though! I thought it was nice."

Xander yawned and stretched. "Never would have been able to sing it without the prompts, but it's one of those things that seeps into your subconscious and you don't realize it until much later, you know?"
 
Alec smiled and leaned back in the seat. "I love when you sing."

When they arrived home, it wasn't long until the twins were both in Alec's room and sound asleep, having a sleepover. Alec was disappointed Dark wouldn't sing, and he didn't understand why he wouldn't. He'd had the whole time they'd been arranging the meeting to decide what song and prepare himself, and it was just them in a soundproofed room. The only stranger was Tristan. There wasn't even a stage to get a fright on. He hoped someday Dark would loosen up and sing for everyone's enjoyment, but he also knew bringing it up would not help anything.

That weekend, Emma and Alec were going on a date. Alec was fussing over his appearance and waiting for her to pick him up. He'd changed his shirt three times in the last fifteen minutes, choosing increasingly quieter, less-vibrant options. He stood by the window in black pants and a rust-orange sweater now, watching for her car. Or, rather, her mother's car she was borrowing.
 
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