How Green Becomes Wood

"Those months where I was only able to use unscented products were miserable, but I'm very glad they were available," Daizi said, while Ivy, squirming again, wriggled up onto her feet and grabbed onto her father's beard to pull him close again, demanding more attention.
 
"Cool toy," Xander agreed. He held out his hand to see if she wanted to give it to him or was just showing it to him.

"Ann?" Ciara repeated. "How very," she caught herself before she could say "feminine," and instead went with, "unique. Is that what she has decided to call you?"

Xander nodded. "Yep. I'm Ann, and he's Ack. Very flattering, but, hey, it works."
 
Ivy waved the toy in Xander's face and giggled. Then, wiggling back off the couch, she marked back over to Ciara, now showing it off to her.

"Unfortunately for Xander, 'Ann' is the simplest part of his name to say," Dark replied.
 
Ivy reached upwards, pushing her toy closer to Ciara, trying to get her to acknowledge it too.

"You're fortunate, though," Daizi told Alec, "You said you didn't want to be called Al."
 
Ciara looked down at Ivy and nodded to Ivy. "Yes, that... toy is a very good toy," she told Ivy. She could not tell what it was. A dog? A bear? A platypus?

"Ack is definitely better than Al," Alec agreed. "I don't mind Ack. It's weird, and it amuses me, but I don't mind it."
 
Ivy squeaked at her, pushing herself up onto her toes slightly, trying to get the toy as close into Ciara's face as possible. This, though, over extended her, and she toppled forward. She didn't fall all the way to the floor, but did land with her face right agains Ciara's lap. Standing back upright, she lifted her head and just looked at Ciara, almost seeming confused about how that had occurred.

"Are you okay, Tifla?" Dark asked, but didn't seem particularly bothered because it didn't look like she had fallen hard.
 
"Oh dear," Ciara frowned at Ivy. "That was an interesting fall." She reached out her hands, hovering on either side of Ivy as she tried to figure out if and how she should help.

"You're fine, aren't you, Mini?" Xander asked her. "Good landing."
 
Ivy pushed agaisnt Ciara's legs and, in the manner of her father, blandly said, "Oh no," and then toddled away back towards her parents. When she climbed up on the couch and snuggled in against Daizi, Dark looked at her for a couple minutes before looking at their host.

"I think we should be getting her home soon," Dark told her, "If her routine is thrown off too much, she gets herself into a foul mood, and I do not wish to subject you to that needlessly."
 
"I understand," Ciara said. She was not certain if it would be good manners or not to thank him for not subjecting her to a cranky toddler. "She is very cute."

"Isn't she?" Alec grinned as he stood. "Your new place is really nice, Aunt Ciara."

"Very nice," Xander agreed, following Alec's lead.
 
"She is," Dark agreed softly, looking at his toddler squirm and almost try to disappear against her mother.

"Thank you so much for having us over!" Daizi said brightly, lifting Ivy into her arms, "It is such a comfortable home, and I'm glad you live so much closer to us now."
 
"Of course," Ciara said, standing to see them out. "I am looking forward to seeing you all more often."

Alec gave her a quick hug. "I'm looking forward to it, too!"

Ciara patted him lightly on the back. "Indeed."

Alec let go and turned to go.
 
As Dark left, he took a quick scan over the living room to make sure Ivy hadn't left a mess somewhere, as was her greatest skill. Ultimately he slightly adjusted a throw pillow and breathed a sigh of relief at how well contained they had contained Ivy, unable to see from his angle the small toy which had been knocked beneath the couch.

"Call us if you need anything," Dark told her, helping Daizi find her shoes and grabbing the diaper bag while Daizi said goodbye a few more times, repeating her interest in visiting with Ciara more.
 
"Of course. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you, and thank you for the, uh, cookies," Ciara said, not wanting to butcher the pronunciation of the ethnic words.

"They are very good. I'm sure you'll like them," Alec said happily as they traipsed out.
 
On the drive home, Daizi talked about how lovely their time visiting Ciara's house was, and Dark agreed, stating the sandwiches were lovely and Ivy was very well behaved. Hopefully, he joked, she was well behaved enough that Ciara would not regret having them over.

"We managed to stop her from smearing cucumber on every available surface, so I think we need to just accept the win," Daizi laughed.
 
"Ivy was absolutely perfectly well behaved," Alec grinned, "as were you two. And you, too, Xander. I am very proud of this family for how properly social we all were!"

Xander raised his eyes skyward. "Oh. I am so glad we were able to do you proud."
 
"You were both well behaved during this time, and I am very proud of you both," Alec assured them. He smiled at Ivy. "You were the best of all. Cuteness overload and no mess!" He glanced at Xander. "You could have been a little more talkative."

"I'll take that under advisement," Xander said dryly.
 
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