How Green Becomes Wood

"Ah," Xander said in realization. "Looks like we're walking. To the park via foot!"

"Not nearly as catchy," Alec sniggered.

"Hush, you," Xander grumbled as he turned and led Alec the other direction.
 
"Yalla, Habibti," Daizi said, bending down to hold Ivy's hand to help her walk to the park. It was a little awkward, and made using her cane more difficult, but it was manageable for the full ten minutes Ivy walked before she demanded to not need to walk anymore, at which point Daizi picked her up and asked, "Does Ivy want to be carried or do you want to be pushed in your stroller? I think baby Ivy-Qadira would have a lot of fun in her stroller!"
 
Ivy looked at the stroller, feeling a bit uncertain (and, honestly, not really understanding the question), so Daizi said, "Remember Ivy? Like when Baba runs with you!" before putting her in the seat and buckling the seat belt. At first, she did start to fuss a little bit, wanting to be held, but being familiar with this, Daizi said, "You'll love it so much, Ivy! Just you wait!" because ultimately, she knew as soon as they started pushing her, Ivy would be just fine.
 
"Here we go!" Alec sang and started walking. It was not as fast as Dark running with her, but he held a quick, steady pace to get her interested in what they were doing.

Xander guided Enkidu to walk in front of the stroller so Ivy could see him, too, leaving Daizi plenty of space to walk next to the stroller.
 
Once Alec started pushing her more quickly, Ivy settled down in the stroller, squeaking and babbling loudly as she tried to tell them everything about what she was thinking. Occasionally she tried to reach out to Enkidu, whose name she hadn't come anywhere near to pronouncing, but not for a lack of trying. All she could do was an excited Eee!

Soon enough, they were at the park--the one Daizi had sent them all to for the proposal, with the duck pond--and hearing the sounds of children playing, Daizi asked, "Should we sit on the grass or at a table?"
 
"How about grass? Mini might have an easier time on the grass," Alec suggested.

"Grass might be cleaner than some of these tables," Xander agreed, already scouting a clean looking spot.
 
"It probably is," Daizi agreed, holding onto the side of the stroller now that they were looking for a specific area, "We should try to sit near the littlest kid part of the playground, so there's less of a concern of older kids running in and trampling Ivy over. I mean, regardless she's at risk of it, but it's a little bit less likely."
 
"Right. This way, then," Xander said.

Alec touched Daizi's arm and guided her after Xander until he found a good spot near the little kid area. The park was not particularly busy, so there was plenty of space. Xander laid out the blanket with Alec's help, and then Xander started laying out the food.

"How's this feel, Mama?" Alec asked.
 
"This is good," Daizi said, feeling the edges of their blanket out before taking Ivy out of her stroller. Almost immediately she tried to go hurrying off, amazed by this big world, but Daizi said, "Ivy, we have to eat first, silly girl! Aren't you hungry?"

Stopping in her tracks, Ivy turned and scowled at her mother, not sure she liked being told not to run off. She swayed, debating her best course of action, until she saw the food Xander was laying out. Pointing at it, she said, "This?"

"Yes, habibti, we're going to eat this. It's lunchtime!"
 
She continued to sway, grumbling slightly as she glanced behind her at all the fun going on at the playground. Then she looked back at the food she really liked, and grumbled as she struggled between the two options. While she hesitated, Daizi made a big show of eating some of the lunch to make it look extra delicious.
 
Alec was already eating and humming happily as he bounced in place. It was not a show for him. He quite liked this!

Xander followed Alec's example, though he could not quite manage to make it look like he was extra enjoying it. That just wasn't his style.
 
Watching her mother and brothers eat, Ivy slowly, begrudgingly, sat down with them, and when Daizi set out her food for her, Ivy ate it. Soon enough, she was back to her normal, happy self, gladly babbling as she ate it.

"Ivy-Qadira," Daizi chuckled, amused how relatively easy it was to get her to eat---at least that time, "You are so sweet."
 
"And easy to please food-wise," Xander remarked. "Most of the time. The playground is going to be fun."

"I hope I can fit on the slide and show her how it's done," Alec said worriedly.
 
"That if I can do it you can, or that she's going to sleep well?" Daizi asked while Ivy made a valiant, but not particularly successful, at taking just a bite of Alec's food when it was offered to her, "I think both are usually true."
 
"The sleep one," Alec replied, trying to keep his fingers safe. "Nice try, Mini! Maybe less shark-like next time."

"There's a Judo competition coming up in a couple of weeks," Xander remarked. "Haven't decided if I want to do it or not."
 
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