When Cooger came, he brought with him a few pints of ice cream... and a bottle of whiskey. He took Dark back outside where they could talk privately and drink, although not enough to get drunk. He would've brought something else, he admitted, but he didn't know how the twins would react to the smell of it on their father or if it could be dangerous for Ivy. Dark told him his truth about the fight, his broken rib, and his frustration with how the school was handling it. When Ivy was napping, Dark and Cooger came inside so Daizi could join them without the worry of leaving their baby inside, unmonitored, and then, for just a little while, they spent time like they used to, before all of their lives had changed so much.
He did his best to seem normal, but ever since Tuesday, he found it difficult to feel much of anything, but the numbness had been creeping in so slowly, and so insidiously, he didn't even realize it had started. Even to himself, he was writing it off as exhaustion. His body was healing, it took energy, that was all. All of the horrible thoughts that sprang into his mind unbidden were simply there. Despite being allowed to return to work on Friday, he took the day off (and, thankfully, Bernice agreed to let him without a fight. Now that his name was entirely cleared, the entire school, including parents, had begun shifting their messaging towards him and were more than happy to give him an extra day of recovery).
Still, a few pleasing moments still broke through. The work he had done in preparation for Mother's Day made him feel proud. Ivy's laugh made him happy. Knowing it was approaching the day where the twins formally announced their desire to be adopted filled him with feelings he didn't know the name for. But those were all just moments. The rest of the time, it was like he was drifting.
For her part, Daizi kept up to everything she had already been doing: Taking care of her family. It was good to be on the other side of things, as worried as she was for them. She didn't know how she should feel about mother's day. She was absolutely thrilled for it, because this one, this one she earned, but it felt weird to look forward a day that was just about her, when her family was so wounded. She had, however, spoken with Dark, and he agreed to help her with her own small surprise.
On Saturday, she was making herself somewhat scarce so her family could discuss without her overhearing, and when Dark was discussing food with his sons, he made sure to be holding Ivy, so she could 'be part of it.'
"You are never quiet about food," Dark commented to Xander, "Are you feeling worse than yesterday?"