How Green Becomes Wood

[pandakatiefominz]

Ivy pointed down at his large boot, "This?"

 

[BookKnight]

"This is a big shoe," Xander told her seriously. "It's a good shoe. It makes owies go away."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

She knelt down beside it, and would've begun to touch it had her father not firmly told her not to the second she began to stretch out her hand. Instead, then, she walked to the crutches, pointed, and again asked, "This?"

 

[BookKnight]

Xander stared at the crutches. "I do not know how to explain those," he finally said. "Hop-abouts. To help with the owie."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"She will understand better about them once she sees you use them," Dark said, secretly worried they would frighten her but not wanting to express that concern for the sake of his drug-addled son.

 

[BookKnight]

Xander nodded, content with that. "You'll soon see, Mini," he told her and then smiled. "Heh. That rhymed."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Are you looking forwards to seeing your friends tomorrow?" Dark asked, bending to pick up Ivy since he could tell she was still a bit unsettled.

 

[BookKnight]

"Yeah. Sloan's good. Milo's good. Peter's pretty good," Xander listed off idly. "Good folk. Becky's too hyper, but she's good for Alec."

Alec made a face at him.

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"I am sure they miss you too," Dark replied, "I am still very glad to know Milo is not moving away now."

 

[BookKnight]

Xander nodded, absently playing with the shadows Ivy's hair was creating. "Me too. He wanted to be with his mom, and I wanted him to be with his mom, but nobody believed she was stable. I don't think even he fully believed she was stable, and he wanted to help her and protect her and take care of her, and he'd spent all that time defending her. So. Now she's stable. Really, truly, awesomely stable. And that makes him happy, and he's got other folk lookin' out for him, and he's happy. I'm happy he's happy. I'm happy he gets to stay here."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"It is a really good thing for him," Dark said, "Do you think you will do anything fun with him over the summer?"

 

[BookKnight]

"Hmm... I'd like to, but I dunno. I don't do fun things," Xander mused. "What are you supposed to do over the summer?"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Water based activities, I believe," Dark answered, "When you are healed, we can go to a water park."

 

[BookKnight]

"Hmm. Water could be a lot of fun. I like water. I think." Xander frowned. "Do I like water? I'm not certain I do."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Ivy loves water," Dark said, bouncing his toddler on his knee, "You enjoyed your waterballoon fight last year, or at the very least it appeared you did, so if I were to guess you enjoy water. I also thought you liked the beach, at least until the fish touched your leg."

 

[BookKnight]

Alec snickered. "The fish thing was hilarious!"

"Oh yeah. I like civilized water. Fish are nasty. Unless they are being eated. Fish for eating are good. Smoked over a fire," Xander said, feeling drowsy. He shifted and snuggled down on the couch, comfortable and content. "You make good fish. Out of water. Not in the water."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Well thank you," Dark replied, genuinely appreciating the compliment, "What is your favourite thing that I cook?"

 

[BookKnight]

Xander considered this question with great care. "Maybe. Top five, for sures. I like that beef stew kind of thing you do, and the saffron rice, that dolma thing, oh, and the chicken. That really good chicken thing you make. Mmmm, and the hummmmmus. Hummmmm. Us." He smiled to himself. "Fun to say. HummmmMMMmmmmmmmmmMMMmmmmmmmmmMUS!"

"Bonkers," Alec said in loving amusement. "Completely bonkers."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Hummus," Dark said, deeply amused and slightly playing up his accent.

 

[BookKnight]

"Hummus," Xander said, for once perfectly nailing the accent. He and Alec could understand about the same amount now, but while Alec's accent was really good (still obviously American), his was... less than great.