How Green Becomes Wood

[pandakatiefominz]

Dark shook his head, still gently running his fingers through Ivy's hair, "If you had started at A, I would be tempted to tell you to plan dates alphabetically. I suppose you could skip C and go straight to D, to claim you intentionally skipped your initials."

 

[BookKnight]

"I guess we could skip H, too," Alec mused. "But what about Claire's initials?" He frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know her middle name. I should ask. Anyway! It's too late for that because we're going to the park to search for Newts." He sighed happily and squeezed his new bear. "It's a lovely time to be alive."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Newts?" Dark asked, raising an eyebrow, "Like the amphibian?" Unlike Alec and Claire, he knew they were salamanders, "What made you decide on that?"

 

[BookKnight]

"Are they amphibians? Huh. Well, at school, I heard someone talking about a scavenger hunt with newts. You go and find little statues of newts following newt clues," Alec grinned. "It sounded cool and unique and like something she might enjoy."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"They are, yes," Dark replied, "Are you hunting for actual salamanders, or depictions of salamanders?"

 

[BookKnight]

"Little life-sized statues of newts. Or salamanders. Whatever they are," Alec said, waving his hand lightly. He gave his bear another hug and then wrapped him up in the shirt again.

 

[pandakatiefominz]

With his daughter drooling on his chest, Dark looked at Alec in his intense, searching way in silence. Finally, he said, "You really like her."

 

[BookKnight]

Alec nodded bashfully. "Yeah. I really, really like her. In fact, I'd say I'm head over heels for her. I've had a crush on her for the longest time." He sighed sappily. "The longest time! And now, we finally get to spend time together, and she's not just an ethereal angel at a distance. She's an angel who holds my hand and tells me how to make Tuttie Frutti boba!"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"I am very glad for you," Dark told him, a distant wistful look coming into his eyes, "It is really special to get to spend time with someone who means that to you. I should warn you against putting her on a pedestal, but there are just some things we must do until we are proved right or wrong."