How Green Becomes Wood

"A nice hug will help her get over it, I bet," Alec told him with a little laugh. He headed upstairs with Kiki following him, confused, and got into bed. Xander grumbled sleepily. Alec snuggled up and fell sound asleep in a matter of seconds.
 
"I am sure it will," Dark replied, finally getting up and following Alec inside, finally locking the doors as he had promised to do. As expected, Daizi was already sleeping when he came in, but she stirred slightly when he got into bed beside her, grumbling something incomprehensible to express her discontent before falling back asleep, now warm in her husband's arms.
 
The next morning, Xander woke early, as usual, and lay in confusion for a moment while he remembered where he was. That done, hea headed down to his room with Kiki following him and changed into his running clothes. Kiki attacked a sock so enthusiastically that he let her have it. When he came back upstairs to leave, he stopped short. Alec stood there adjusting a bright orange hoodie and a pair of headphones.

Alec smiled at Xander. "Running company?" he asked softly.

"I'll send you my running mix," Xander said, pulling on his knit hat with the built-in bluetooth that Alec had gotten him for Christmas.

Alec brightened, and the pair went out to run together. Alec never ran. Running was his most hated form of exercise. Now, though, he did his best to keep pace with Xander, and Xander slowed a little to help him keep up. They didn't talk, listening to music as they ran and jogged together. They got home and took turns in the shower. Alec dressed for work, dressing in all solid colors, each item of clothing a different color, but they were all similar shades so it worked.
 
At breakfast, noting the change which had come over Alec, Daizi said, "You seem to be in a better mood today," while Ivy excitedly called to him, holding up her arms.
 
Last edited:
Alec smiled and reached down to pick Ivy up. "I'm still sad about things, but I've had a good, long think to come to terms with them. I feel a lot better." He lofted Ivy high and blew a raspberry on her belly.
 
"You're welcome habibi. I guessed if you weren't able to go to school, you probably weren't ready to go to work. I didn't give him the details why you couldn't go, though, I only said you weren't feeling well." Daizi explained, getting up to start preparing coffee when she heard footsteps on the stairs, "Are you planning on going to work today?"
 
Alec nodded. "Yes. One day off was enough, I think. I don't want Uncle Tristan to suffer for my emotional instability. As long as my ever patient big brother will take me?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'll take you."
 
"I'm sure he'll be glad to have you back," Daizi said. Then, as Dark shambled in, she said, "Sabah Al-Khair, Goose."

"Sabah al-Nur," He replied, sleep still in the lines of his face, "Are you making me coffee?"

"I thought you might need it, since you were sleeping so deeply when I woke up."
 
"Look, Ivy! It's Ba! Let's hug Ba good morning!" Alec chirped. He carried Ivy over so they could hug Dark. Alec only used one arm to hug him, the other supportive the toddler.
 
"Baba!" Ivy chirped, wrapping her arms around Dark's neck.

"Good morning, Tifla," He mumbled, "You have such energy in the mornings." Then, blearily he focused in on Alec's clothing, "You are colourful today. That is good."
 
"Mmm, sounds good." Xander helped her make breakfast, adding in extra stuff for himself and Alec.

Alec tried to help, but he was mostly getting in the way. Xander firmly but gently steered him to sit at the table until food was ready.
 
The Ful Medames was a little bit difficult for Ivy to eat without making a mess, but she clearly enjoyed it even as she covered herself, her high chair, and the floor in it, much to Enkidu's delight. Dark was a bit too tired to feel too much anguish over it, and all Daizi could think was, well, at least she loved her cultural foods, even if she got it everywhere.

"Do you have plans for the day, Xander?" Daizi asked casually.
 
Kiki got several drops of food along her back when she got too close to Ivy's highchair, and now she was hiding under the table and trying frantically to get it out of her fur.

"Not really," Xander said with a shrug. "I don't have any commissions right now, and I've got plenty of stock, so I don't have a lot of work to do. Don't have any homework, either. Maybe I'll just chill today."
 
Seeing the food dripped on the cat, Enkidu ambled over, and began intensely sniffing her.

"Those are the best days, I think," Daizi said, "I love being busy, I love having projects... but sometimes nothing beats laying around with absolutely nothing to do. Except now I have a toddler, so we don't really get those days anymore, do we Goose?"

"Not as much, but we get the occasional hour."
 
Kiki ignored Enkidu at first, not thinking anything of the dog being strange, but when he really started getting up in her space, she gave him a dirty look and turned her back on him.

Xander snorted. "No downtime whatsoever. It's no wonder parents are kind of crazy sometimes and can't wait for school to start."
 
Back
Top