How Green Becomes Wood

He did as he was told, making absolutely no trouble and standing perfectly still. By no means was he talkative, but he did his best to be friendly, even though he had little to no interest in being sociable. While waiting for the negative to develop, and while in a place he could, he sent a quick text to Daizi to also tell her he would be home soon, and that he loved her.

Then, when the negatives were ready, he went to look over them with the doctor, looking dimly at his own skeleton.

~~

"They're wonderful," Daizi said, her face glowing, "It's been such an experience to see how much they've matured in only a year and a half. I don't know if it's like that with Peter, I guess I'll find out in fifteen years with Ivy, but they've grown so much, and it's like... The personalities they had when they first came here were such a pale version of who they actually are now that they've had the space to really settle in and relax."
 
Alec sent a text to Daizi saying they expected to be home soon, and then he and Xander just waited for something to happen. They sat quietly in the waiting room with a few other people, everyone effectively doing their best to mind their own business and not bother anyone else.

The doctor frowned as she looked over the image with Dark. There were a lot of pale lines that showed past breaks that had healed, but the one she was most interested in was the one in the rib area. "Yes, the rib is damaged," she concluded. "I talked to the radiologist, and they were able to tell me that it is just a thin fracture. It will heal on its own as long as you don't push yourself too hard, but it will take a few weeks. I would estimate six weeks. If you take it easy."

~~

"Not quite. It's more like watching his personality develop from something raw and unformed to something more defined," Sally mused. "Certain elements were always there, but some faded while new ones came to be. It was fascinating to watch and a marvel to be a part of."
 
"I thought so. Thank you." Dark said simply. Then he gathered the rest of his things, confirmed with her when he would be able to return to his usual activity level, if there were any restrictions on what he could lift, and promised to take it easy, Despite not being particularly warm, he wasn't going to be rude to a stranger, especially not a medical professional who was just doing her job. She didn't break his rib.

Once he had all the information he needed, he walked with her back to the waiting room, rejoining his sons, "It is just a little bruised, it will be healed in no time at all."

~~

Turning her face towards Sally, still lying on her back, Daizi beamed, "We're really lucky, aren't we?"
 
"Oh good!" Alec breathed in relief. "Still, bruises are not fun. You'll have to take it easy right along with Xander."

"Yay," Xander said bleakly as he stood, but he couldn't completely hide his relief. He'd been worried Dark was hurt a lot worse. He didn't want Dark to be in pain at all, but bruises were better than breaks. "Let's get home so Mama can fuss over us all."

"I'll help. I'm in the best shape," Alec said, hurrying ahead to open the door for his brother and father once they were ready to leave. "Thank you, Doctor!"

~~

"So incredibly lucky," Sally agreed. Then she admitted, "I sometimes feel guilty for how much I did not want Peter at the beginning, especially now that I have him. He is the most precious thing to me right there with my husband. I would gladly live in a tiny apartment and work at a... a Walmart if it meant keeping my family together and happy. Although, I'd really rather not."
 
"I will have to," He agreed, stopping at the counter to pay the copay, and then went with them to the car. When he saw their relief, part of him regretted his lie, but it really reaffirmed his belief that it was the correct choice. Now they didn't need to worry very much at all. Daizi would know the truth, but she'd keep it secret from them. She'd understand. "Have you told your Aunt, if you are planning on telling her?"

~~

"When I had my first miscarriage, I was relieved. Glad, even." Daizi replied, choosing to admit something she found hard to accept for herself to try to make Sally feel more secure. "It's impossible to tell how you'll feel about something unplanned when you're living with the result of it."
 
"Oh," Alec said soberly as they headed for the car. "I... hadn't even thought about that. She'd go ballistic, but in her really, really cold way."

"I dunno. She might not. Does she even need to know?" Xander asked with a frown.

~~

Sally reached out and squeezed Daizi's shoulder gently. "We're told not to regret the past, that it does nothing to help, but that's hard sometimes. A lot of the times." She smiled then and reached out to Ivy. "But now we both have a life I don't think either of us would have dreamed we'd have."
 
"Not if you do not want her to," Dark replied, cautiously sitting down and buckling his seatbelt, "I do not know if she ends up seeing any police reports, or if she has our names flagged on some... data base of some sort."

~~

"Despite... the events of yesterday, and the fall out we're having now, I really am beyond happy," Daizi kissed Ivy one last time before allowing Sally to take her. "Maybe a bit stir-crazy, and definitely exhausted, but happy. I mean, I still wish the twins wanted us to adopt them formally, because I'd like to have that absolute certainty there won't be some unexpected event that will take them away from us, but I'm... satisfied, with how we are. And I love them so much, I love every time I get to refer to my boys, or my sons... They're incredible people. I don't know how I got so fortunate that Dark found them out in the snow that day. It was fate, I suppose."
 
"Nah, or else she would have called by now! Right?" Alec smiled. He winced when he saw Dark wince. "I'm sorry I can't drive for you."

~~

"Truly a fortunate turn of fate," Sally agreed. She bounced Ivy gently. "I do not wish to pry into private business, but have they told you why they don't want to be adopted?"
 
"Maybe she, too, is conducting her own investigation." Dark said blandly, starting the car. "You do not have to feel bad about it, it just hurts a little when I get in because I am bending. The rest of the drive is not so bad."

Then he began the little drive home.

~~

"Alec said it wouldn't feel right." Daizi answered, shutting her eyes and listening to Ivy's little gurgles, "I didn't ask for more information than that. He then found me sobbing my eyes out and told me I'm still his mom."
 
Satisfied by Dark's answer, Alec settled back and watched the scenery while they drove. Xander leaned back in silence, looking a little green. He didn't like car rides anymore.

~~

"Oh, you poor dear," Sally murmured, truly hurting on Daizi's behalf. "That would be so difficult to hear. It must be complicated for him, as well, but I couldn't imagine the pain for you. I'm sorry. I would have thought it would be Xander saying no and Alec going for the adoption."
 
Daizi shrugged, sitting upright, "I agreed I'd leave it up to them, and I've committed to that. But I think it'll always hurt, but I'm keeping it to myself. I don't want to guilt them into changing their minds." She leaned in to rub Ivy's back, "She's getting sleepy. Are you okay if she falls asleep on you?"

After a short drive, Dark's car pulled into the driveway and, like the day before, opened the twins' door for them and followed them inside. "Hello, darling, we are home."
 
"Of course! If you are alright with it," Sally said, rocking Ivy gently against her shoulder. "Thank you for sharing your baby with me."

The twins arrived home then, with Dark on their heels. Sally called her hello, and Alec practically dove at his mother for a hug. Xander stayed long enough to be polite before retreating upstairs. He'd had enough for one day.
 
"Honestly, it... It makes me really happy to know people care about her, and want to spend time with her," Daizi confessed, petting Enkidu now that her arms were free, "We waited so long for her, showing her off feels like everything."

When Alec came to her, she hugged him tightly, and Enkidu followed Xander upstairs, and would just lay outside his door if he didn't get to go into the bedroom.

"How are you all?"

"It is all as we thought," Dark answered, sitting down on the couch, eyeing his daughter who had fallen fast asleep, her little hand holding onto Sally's shirt, "so it is not too bad. We are not in worse shape than we believed."
 
Xander almost closed the door until he realized Enkidu wanted to come in. He left the door open and pulled a couple of blankets and a pillow from his bed, laying them down on the floor. Laying down on the blankets, he patted the open spot beside him, inviting Enkidu to join him.

"They ask a lot of questions at a clinic, but no one screamed," Alec informed Daizi. "Xander might end up screaming from boredom. The doctor said he shouldn't go to school for the rest of the week and should take it easy for the next couple. No Judo for him."

"That's a shame. Peter's going to miss his sparing partner," Sally remarked. She noticed Dark eying Ivy. She gave Ivy a little kiss on the top of her head and very carefully transferred her to Dark, making certain to stay on the non-injured side.
 
Enkidu happily came in and lay down with Xander, laying his head in Xander's lap looking up at him with his big, warm brown eyes.

When Sally gave Ivy to him, he sat up a little taller and brought Ivy in close, lightly running his thumb across her cheek and then smoothing her hair, "Marhaban, my darling," he whispered, "Baba has missed you." Only then did he raise his head and rejoin the conversation, "I am expected to rest, also. I have a bruise, but that is all."

"You and Xander will have to hold each other accountable," Daizi sighed, knowing how hard it would be for both of them, since they were so active normally.

"I am going to have to work hard when I am cleared," Dark said, not at all looking forward to this time. He'd have to call the doctor and ask if he can still do exercises that didn't affect his torso, but he knew this time was going to wreck his abs, and he was dreading it. It had been hard enough keeping in shape as a new father, but he had managed it. Hopefully, Xander would cope better with relearning after his month off.
 
"Good boy," Xander murmured. He settled down onto his side and ran his fingers through Enkidu's fur, grateful for the non-human companionship. His skin still felt horrible after the doctor's touch, but it hadn't been as prolonged as sometimes, and, frankly, he was too exhausted to shower.

"You two are going to be a handful," Alec said, still leaning into Daizi.

"I should be going now," Sally said, pushing herself to her feet and brushing off her casual but comfortable slacks. "If you need anything, do not hesitate to call. Or text, if you prefer. Anything at all. Do you need anything before I go?" She was already moving toward the door, seeing the sheer exhaustion in Dark's eyes, but she'd happily come back if they needed anything.
 
"I am going to call my GP, certainly there is light exercise I can do," Dark responded lightly, shifting on the couch to get comfortable, because he was going to sit right there with his daughter until she woke up. It was only right. "I appreciate you coming by, Sally. I do not need anything."

Daizi disentangled herself from Alec so she could walk her friend to the door, "Thank you for coming. It helped a lot to have someone to talk to. Honestly, I think I would've collapsed if I was waiting here alone while he was at the doctor without me. I don't know if I've ever stayed home before--I didn't like it very much."
 
Alec let Daizi go and went to Dark briefly. "I'm going to go upstairs now to check on Xander." He gave Ivy a little stroke before heading off.

"You are very welcome," Sally assured Daizi as she located her shoes. "Truly. I am more than happy to do it. Call me if you need me." She gave Daizi a light hug and a kiss on the cheek before heading out to her car.
 
"Okay," Dark murmured, but left it at that. He couldn't bring himself to go through another around of, 'are you okay?' 'Is he okay?' 'I am okay, do you need anything?' 'Does he need anything?' They were all hurt. They were all upset. And, in his opinion, they needed quiet.

"I will," Daizi promised, hugging Sally goodbye, and then she returned to Dark and joined him on the couch, being certain to stay on his right side. She gave him a little kiss and curled up against him, wrapping him up in her arms. "What did the doctor say about you?"

"My sixth rib on the left side is fractured," He answered. The twins were out of earshot but he still used the more scientific Arabic word, hoping they wouldn't know that one if they did happen to overhear.

"I love you." She kissed his shoulder.

"I love you too."

"You'll be healed in no time. And so will they."

That time, he didn't answer her, instead he rested his head against hers and shut his eyes. Since he had Ivy sleeping in his arms, he couldn't sleep, but simply shutting his eyes was restful.
 
Alec tiredly dragged himself upstairs and paused in surprise when he saw the door open. Strange. Xander almost never left the door open. Then he saw Enkidu laying on the floor with Xander and it made sense. He didn't want to crowd them, so he carefully climbed up onto his bed and lay on the edge near them. He wasn't badly hurt, but he was very, very tired and emotionally haggard. He needed to contact his therapist about a session, but... maybe in a minute or two.

Perhaps ten minutes after Dark had settled on the couch, his phone rang. It was Ciara.
 
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