How Green Becomes Wood

Milo put most of his attention into building roads. There was plenty to squabble over, and plenty to trade, but he was content to help as needed, so long as it did not interfere with his desire to build roads. This did, of course, not earn him any points, except for the 2-points at the end, but he seemed to enjoy being able to connect to as many resources as possible.
 
Alec and Xander wrestling made Paisley, the poor, decrepit old dog, leap up as quickly as her old bones could manage and start barking at them. Her little yapping did not subside until Milo picked her up, saying "I'm okay taking last place, because I know in the future of that fake civilization, my roads will outlast everything else."
 
"Sorry for scaring Paisley," Alec apologized, unable to quite stop grinning as he sat atop Xander.

Xander grunted but didn't knock Alec off, something he could easily do. "Roads are important. Like mail and stuff. You do good work."

"I should probably be heading home," Peter said, checking the time. "Congratulations on your roads, Milo."
 
"Absolutely!" Peter said with a grin, reaching out to shake Milo's hand. "Thank you for inviting me. It was a really fun time. Your parental figures are all really great."

Alec and Xander got up off the floor, and Alec moved to pet Paisley and murmur happily at her.
 
Elle, Millie-Beth, and Clark all said goodbye to Peter, all of them finding him a perfectly respectable young man. It was nice to finally meet the drummer of the band Milo had once gone to play with, and they told him as much.

"You're welcome to stay here as long as you like," Millie-Beth told the twins, "But do you know when you may want to head home? I would hate for your parents to get worried, the roads can be dangerous on a Friday night."
 
"Thank you, Ma'am," Alec smiled. "We are not in a rush, but we should probably leave here soon-ish. For the driving reason."

"Says the one not driving," Xander remarked. "But he's not wrong. Thanks for having us over. It was a good time."
 
"I'm really glad you came," Milo told them, admittedly nearing the end of his social battery, "It was a good birthday. And thank you again for the tarts, they were really, really good."

"If you are heading out, let me at least stand on the porch so I know you made it into your car safe," Elle said.
 
Xander was also near the end of his social battery, and he knew his was bigger than Milo's, which meant Milo had to be done, so he was glad Alec had started them on the way out the door. "You're welcome," he told Milo, offering a fist bump.

Alec offered a side-hug but would take a handshake if Milo preferred. Then he made sure he had everything he'd come inside with and headed for the door. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks," Xander said to Elle with a little nod, not arguing with her. "See you Monday, Stitch."
 
"See you Monday," Milo said, returning the fist-bump and the side hug, and stayed in the living room until the front door shut, at which point he started to retreat to his bedroom, before realizing he didn't know if he was meant to hang out with his mom some more that night.

Outside, Elle did originally plan just to see them out, but after a brief moment of hesitation she said, "Xander?"
 
Xander stopped at the top step of the porch and turned back. "Yeah?" he asked in a neutral voice that was only slightly tinged with suspicion. It wasn't personal to Elle. That was how he reacted to pretty much every adult who suddenly wanted to talk to him.

Alec was down at the bottom of the stairs, and he waited patiently on the sidewalk. He was curious but not concerned.
 
"I just wanted..." She sighed, taking another moment before saying, "Thanks, for being such a good friend to Milo. It's been hard for him, and I'm glad he's had someone in his corner all this time."
 
Xander blinked a bit, surprised by her words. "Yeah," he finally said. "He's been a good friend to me, too. Almost wasn't. Worked out in the end, though. I'm..." He hesitated, testing his words before saying them. "Glad that you decided to come here. For his sake. And mine. Hard to find good friends. And you made his wish come true." He gave a little shrug and turned to go, embarrassed.
 
"I'm glad I was able to," Elle told him, "Anyway, I won't keep you. I just wanted to let you know... He just seems so much better than he was a year ago, and he talks about you almost every time we're in a call. I'm really glad he's had a good friend. Get home safe, okay?"
 
Xander's ears went red, and he didn't turn around as he said, "Will do. Thanks." He hurried away, sweeping up his brother as he went. Alec smiled and waved to Elle as he followed Xander's lead.

It was a simple drive home, and the pair didn't talk as Xander focused. Alec was pleased for his brother, but he knew bringing it up would be a bad idea. Still, this was possibly the best day he'd ever been able to witness.
 
When the twins came home, Dark and Daizi had been on the couch together, a half-drunk bottle of wine left on the coffee table. They hadn't quite expected them home yet, since they hadn't received a warning text, so when the door opened, after some muffled, surprised swearing, they shifted further apart on the couch and waited for their children to announce their arrival.
 
The twins realized they'd forgotten to text too late. The brief conversation with Elle had thrown Xander enough he forgot, and Alec simply didn't think to. They came in with plenty of noise and lingered in the entry a bit before calling out and heading in. Both pretended they did not hear the shuffling and swearing.

"Hi!" Alec chirped, hopping into the room. "It was a great time! Milo's best birthday ever, I think, though he's not great at planning parties, to no one's surprise.
 
When they came into the room, Dark was finishing his glass of wine, a few of his shirt buttons still undone, but to be fair, he wore his shirts like that regularly anyway. "Welcome home," He said, his voice perfectly even, "I am glad the party was enjoyable."

"What made it Milo's best?" Daizi asked, the faintest blush lingering on her face.
 
Alec skipped over and sat on the coffee table facing them. He took Daizi's hand. "His mother had an announcement: she's staying here! She got an apartment near his grandparents' place so they can see each other a lot!"
 
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