How Green Becomes Wood

Pausing for a moment, Dark hugged Alec tight. He really had no idea what had occurred or what was bothering him so deeply, but it was clear he needed this, so he was going to hug his son for as long as he needed.
 
Alec considered the question. "Yes," he decided. "I am okay. I just needed a good hug, and I wanted to give one." He smiled at Ivy. "How was your day? Did you keep Ba in line?"
 
"I am glad to have been able to provide," Dark replied while Ivy went up to her brother to finally get the attention she felt she deserved. It didn't make much sense to her why she wasn't immediately doted upon, and the way she babbled at Alec made this clear.
 
Alec smiled at Ivy and scooped her up. "Oh, really? I am so sorry you felt ignored! I promise to do better. What did you do today?" As an aside, he told his father, "Uncle Tristan texted me he's not opening the shop today."
 
"It is good he has decided to take time off," Dark replied while Ivy babbled back at Alec, grabbing onto his face. Watching the two of them Dark said, "We did the laundry together today. She seemed to enjoy it."
 
"Laundry?" Alec said, his voice slightly muffled thanks to Ivy grabbing his face. "Oooo, how fun! Um, maghsala, right? Hal qumt bighasl almalabisi?" Did you do the laundry?"
 
Dark nodded, impressed with Alec's Arabic skills.

"Ah!" Ivy replied, wiggling free and then going back to her toys to play.

"It has been a very busy day for her," Dark said, "She is also learning to put away her toys. She takes them back out almost immediately after, though."
 
"That is very true," Dark agreed, while Ivy went to one of her new favourite toys... a paper towel tube haphazardly fixed to the wall she dropped popsicle sticks through into a bowl below.
 
"We spend too much of our free time trying to keep her entertained," Dark replied, watching Ivy, "That came from a blog post. She loves it."

Her office door was open a crack, and it was very evident Daizi was near to the end of her workday, and doing her absolute best to make it to that time.
 
"That makes sense. And it's probably good that she knows how to entertain herself, right? But not, like, all by herself all the time kind of deal," Alec said, trying to show he was keeping up with Ivy's growth.

Xander looked in through the door but then carefully tiptoed back. He hung out in the hallway, waiting for her to be finished and not interrupt her.
 
"She has been discovering how to occupy herself," Dark confirmed, "It is interesting to watch her develop a bit of an independent streak."

Not long after Xander had been waiting, Daizi finally finished her day, groaning from behind her computer, and then got up to finally be in a different room again.
 
"She seems to go back and forth between wanting all cuddles and running around as far as possible from you," Alec mused.

"Hey, Mama," Xander said, standing back in the hallway so he didn't startle her by speaking right at her shoulder.
 
"That is a very accurate way to explain her," Dark agreed, "But you must not forget her tantrums and attempts to push her boundaries."

"Oh, hello," Daizi said, turning towards his voice, "What are you doing up here?"
 
"Ivy? Tantruming? Pushing boundaries? No!" Alec gasped as dramatically as he could. "She is too adorable to ever do something like that."

"Nothing much. Came to see how your day was," Xander said, walking closer to her. He reached out and initiated a gentle tug on her sleeve.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top