How Green Becomes Wood

"No, it is no concern. Ivy-Qadira, say hello to your Aunt Ciara." When he told Ivy to say hello, he waved which was enough of a clue for Ivy to wave too, although she was familiar enough with her aunt to look delighted to see her.

Meanwhile, Daizi headed upstairs and knocked on Alec's door, "Alec, habibi, your aunt is here, she says she has something for you!"
 
"Hello, Ivy-Qadira, it is nice to see you again," Ciara said formally. "How are you?"

"Really?" Alec asked, opening the door. "That's odd, she didn't mention to me anything about coming." He came out and asked, "Should I go get Xander? He's down in his room."
 
Ivy babbled at her happily while Dark said, "Would you like to sit?"

"I know, she dropped by unannounced," Daizi said, completely okay with it, "Yeah, you can go get him." When she went back downstairs, she immediately said, "You're staying for dinner?"
 
"Thank you, but no," Ciara said to both questions. "I am still technically on the clock right now."

Alec clattered down, called hello, and went to grab his brother. Xander came up and looked at Ciara quizzically.

"Hi, Aunt Ciara!" Alec chirped happily.

"What's up?" Xander asked curiosly.

Ciara nodded to them. "I am on my way to the airport, and I realized I needed to drop off your birthday gifts."
 
Daizi frowned but accepted it, since she knew how airports could be, "After you come back, you need to come for dimner again."

"It is kind of you to go out of your way for their birthday," Dark said.
 
"Does that mean you won't be back in time for our birthday?" Alec asked her.

Ciara shook her head as she set her handbag off to the side for the moment and held out the large bag. "I am going on a business trip for the next three weeks. I thought you might like to have these to open on your birthdays rather than late."

Xander stepped forward to take it. "Thanks. We weren't expecting anything."

"It is my pleasure," Ciara told him. "I realized the overlap in schedule too late or else I would have planned better than to show up on your door like this."

"It's alright. We're just glad to see you," Alec assured her.
 
"I apologize for that," Ciara said again. "I am going to California."

"Really?" Alec asked, his eyes wide. "Are you going to LA? Will you see the beach?"

Ciara smiled at him. "There is a lot more to California than LA and beaches. I will be in the northern part, near Oregon. I might be near a beach, but I am not certain."

"If you do go, will you take a picture for me?" Alec asked.

Ciara nodded. "I will."
 
"I've always wanted to go that far west," Daizi sighed, "I want to visit the redwood forrests. I want to walk around their circumferences."

"I hope you have a safe and peaceful trip." Dark told her.
 
"The redwoods are quite lovely. Perhaps sometime you will be able to take the family to visit," Ciara said.

Alec stepped up and hugged her, which Ciara allowed. Neither noticed her bracelet fall and land silently on the rug. When Alec stepped back, his foot kicked it off into the corner. "Be safe!"

"Text when you've landed?" Xander asked. "Unless you're not allowed for, like, security reasons or something."

"Yes, I will let you know that I've arrived safe," Ciara said with a slight smile. "Good night." She turned to go, pausing long enough to wave to Ivy.
 
"I would love that," Daizi said, "Have a safe trip, and please, let us know when you're back so we can have you over properly."

"Have a nice flight, Ciara," Dark told her while Ivy waved bye-bye.
 
Ciara bid her goodbyes and stepped out into the night.

Once she was gone, Alec looked at the two neatly wrapped gifts of identical size. "Should we open them now?"

"No way, we're waiting," Xander said, claiming the bag.
 
Alec heaved a dramatic sigh. "Yes, I suppose I can wait." He eyed Daizi with a smile. "Maybe next time she'll stay for dinner, but there's no way she'd inconvenience you that way."

"It's true," Xander snickered. "She could never dare to stay without at least three days of advanced notice."
 
"It's not an inconvenience if I offer," Daizi replied, "If she weren't about to catch a plane, I would've said as much."

"She knows now we want to have her over, which means we have three full weeks to plan," Dark said with an easy shrug, setting Ivy into her high chair.
 
"I hope she stays sometime. It's fun when she sticks around," Alec said, coming to help with dinner.

"She always looks so uncomfortable," Xander remarked. "You'd think she'd be over it by now."
 
"There is nothing more nefarious than a loving family," Daizi said cheerfully.

"I believe my loving and devoted wife is planning to bring fact to all the mafia rumors which surround us." Dark said dryly, despite his clear amusement.
 
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