The day of the bonfire, and everyone was pitching in, well, most everyone. Marinette was busy helping Rose and Juleka load a week's worth of food and drinks into the back of the Yukon for an overnight stay. Luka,Nino, Ivan, and Adrien were loading the truck under Alya's supervision.

Everyone had brought some kind of layers with them and those needed to be accessible in case the nip in the air turned chill. Marinette had her new sweater dress on for warmth, though she had slipped a pair of jeans on under it instead of just leggings this time. That coupled with the hiking boots on her feet had her feeling more herself, even if she was still hoping Adrien would notice.

Marinette nearly jumped out of her skin when Lila poked her head around the side of the vehicle with a cheerful, "Need any help?"

Marinette considered it progress that she didn't drop the case of soda she was holding. She fumbled it and managed to wedge it into the SUV before losing her grip. Lila rounded the corner of the vehicle with a giggle that set Marinette's teeth on edge. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She was holding a box and her expression went from happy to contrite in a flash. "You can rest easy as the undisputed queen of pastries. I tried to make some cakes for the trip but on the way here…" She opened the box to reveal devastation. Whatever little confections had been in the box had been broken up and ruined by rough handling. "Only one made it and that went to our fearless leader, but if you want crumbs you're welcome to them." Perky Lila just wasn't right.

"Uhh, no thank you Lila. I'm full, couldn't eat another bite." Marinette assured her.

Lila poked her finger into the mess and came out with a scoop of cake and frosting she popped into her mouth. "Suit yourself."

"Did someone say cake?" Rose scooted in and peered over the corner of the box. She reached in for a messy fingerful.

"Oh, and thank you so much for switching with me, Marinette. It's so embarrassing but I promise we'll be good at the fire. It'll let us sort ourselves out."

That snapped marinette's head back around from where she had been lifting the next case of drinks, not soda, and not for her. "Switching?"

Lila fumbled the box, trying to speak around another mouthful of apparently tasty mess,"oh dey hafn't tol you? Forry, fought you nu."

Marinette shot a look over towards Alya who stood holding a tiny cake delicately in one hand and decidedly *not* meeting Marinette's gaze.

Alya almost made good her escape, but Marinette caught her by the collar of the thick flannel she wore for the trip. "Oh hi Marinette, did you need something? I was just going to get a napkin to eat this…" Alya's too innocent look lacked her usual vixenish flare. So this wasn't her doing.

Marinette squared off on her friend. "One, are you seriously eating something Lila gave you? Two, who is switching what?"

Alya pouted at the admittedly cute cake, complete with a curled up fox on the frosting, during Marinette's first question then winced for the second. "Okay girl you can *not* blame me for this one. Lila always attacks when your too sweet for his own good not-boyfriend is around." Alya switched her grip on the cake, putting one hand under it to keep it from slipping from between her fingers as the frosting gave out. "She and Felix had some kind of row earlier today and didn't want to make a car ride awkward by sitting together. I was all set to let them go when dreamboat suggests you two switch. 'It's not like either of us are going as couples, so we should be the ones who make the sacrifice.'" Alya sighed and shook her head.

"Wait, switch, does that mean I have to sit with Felix?" All the creepy memories of the time he impersonated Adrien came crawling back.

Alya shook her head. "No and thank Chloé of all people for that. For whatever reason she suggested you and her swap. She'll sit with him, you get Luka. You're still in the truck but at least you have some space. It's only for the ride out."

Marinette made a mental picture of the new arrangement, that wasn't too bad. One thing still bugged her though. "That means Lila will be sitting beside Adrien!"

"Not to worry Mar. He's driving so there's the whole console between them and six of us in there too who can keep her honest. Besides," Alya touched a fingertip to her lips, "A little fox told me you don't need to worry about that any more."

Marinette chewed on the whole idea. It did seem well in hand. Being able to talk more with Luka wouldn't be bad. The fact the news had come from Lila was what still bugged her. "I guess Alya, I just don't-"

"Honey, your only worry is that Adrien does not leave this outting a single man. Leave everything else to us."

That confused Marinette,"Us?"

Alya returned the fingertip to her lips but only said, "I'm going to find a napkin." Then raising the cake up where lila could see Alya smiled and headed back into her apartment building.

Lila siddled back up to the loading, having disposed of her box. She asked with an innocence Marinette didn't believe for a minute, "Everything okay Marinette?"

Marinette ground her teeth but pushed a smile onto her face. "You bet! Never better! I'm glad to help out such a good friend!" In a moment of inspiration Marinette threw an arm around Lila's shoulders. Feeling Lila tense gave a small bit of guilty satisfaction. "I'm just gonna go finish packing the food now. See you later Lila!"

Marinette walked away from her tormentor feeling a little better. It didn't seem to have rattled Lila too much though because Marinette could hear her voice even as she walked away. "You really are sweet Luka, letting Felix hang out with Chloé so much during his visit here."

The ride started out on a high note. Chloé dragged Felix out of the extended cab seating to ride in the bed. That was a sight. Him in his pea coat and her in a combination of her Queen Banana hat and boots along with jean shorts and a tie front red plaid crop top. It meant peace and quiet in the cab. Time with Luka, which never failed to help in some way.

"So…" Marinette began as they took the N1 out of Paris. "You guys have been hanging out with Felix?" It was a lame conversation starter but it was the last thing her brain locked onto.

Luka's tone was quiet when he answered. "I have not."

"But Lila said-"

"I'm trying not to think about it, Marinette. How about you? Have you found the right you to ask Adrien out yet?"

That cut to the quick. Marinette fiddled with her seatbelt strap. "I umm no, or yes. I- I'm fine with who I am, but I haven't asked yet. It's still just too scary."

Luka glanced at her and a smile slipped onto his lips where one hadn't been before. "You are a wonderful girl Marinette. I'll miss this you when you conquer your fears, but I'm sure I'll like the new you when I meet her too."

And at that he had her blushing again. It wasn't even fair, he wasn't seeking anything or trying to pay her a compliment. That had been the thing about Luka, one thing he shared with Adrien. They were just able to see the world in such a bright and open way. "I- I hope I like myself then too. I hope Adrien likes me then." Marinette smoothed the hem of her sweaterdress against her jeans. "Is it possible to be exhausted by being in love? I kind of feel that way sometimes. So much pressure that I just want to hide from it all."

Luka tilted his head, considering. "Is it the being in love that is exhausting you, or all the other things you attach to it?"

Marnette bit her bottom lip. "How do you make it all sound so easy?"

"Because *it* is always easy. We're the complicated ones."

Marinette slumped. "It still doesn't mean I'm not tired."

"Then come here." Luka patted his right thigh. "Lay your head down and take a rest. We've got a little time before we get there."

Marinette eeped, tapping her fingers together. "But I'm- You're driving and Chloé and you know Adrien, and lap and I don't know I'm kind of wide awake now you know and-" Marinette dropped her hands and her head. "I'm being complicated again aren't I?"

"Adorably so."

Marinette undid her seatbelt and scooted herself around on the truck's bench seat until she could lay her head in his lap. Luka's hand settled on her side, a slow brush of fingers without intent. It was barely a minute before Marinette rolled over, facing back towards Luka. His hand moved to her shoulder and back in this position; less than a minute more and she was asleep.

Felix shifted, the truck bed was an unyielding thing to sit on. Faced backwards behind the cab sitting side by side they were shielded from the airstream, wedged into a space forward of the cargo. He didn't want to think about what would happen with a sudden stop, then again sitting in the bed of a truck any sudden movements were likely to end poorly.

"Remind me why we're out here again?" He raised his voice even though Chloé sat right beside him.

Chloé gave him a little poke through his thick jacket. "Have you ever ridden in the bed of a truck before?"

"No."

"Well?"

Felix huffed. "There are plenty of things I've never done that I don't want to ever do."

Chloé huddled down in her scanty attire, but grinned at him. "And at least one you do."

Damnable woman. Felix clapped his hands together to warm them. What was moderately cool standing still was quite cold at 110kph. "How are you not freezing in that ludicrous outfit?"

The merlin's eyes met his. "There are plenty of ways to keep warm."

Felix looked away this time. "You enjoy that don't you? Pushing me to see how I react?" Felix hissed at himself for letting her get the better of him. He blamed nerves. He'd spent more time on this than any con before. Simple things became complicated, and complicated things could make plans fall apart.

"Well, if you really are going to whisk me away to London when you go, you should know what you're getting shouldn't you?" Chloé reached across with her left hand and fiddled with one of the buttons on his coat.

Felix snagged her wrist, drawing her hand back slowly. "You realize your current paramour is just a few feet behind us with only a thin bit of steel and glass in the way?"

The merlin leaned in, blue eyes ablaze. "You realize if you go through with this, there won't even be that much."

Felix pushed her hand away. "What do you take me for, a coward?"

Chloé rubbed her wrist but grinned at him. "Cowardice comes in many forms. Are you going to show me you're not?"

Again she'd thrown it back on him. She was doing this more consistently now. When had all this shifted? Best to push it back, to remind her. "I offered you too much, too quickly. You've become complacent."

Chloé shook out her right wrist, shifting the bracelet along it. "Am I not your German princess?" she pouted.

Felix saw a means to reclaim the initiative, to beat her at her own game. He reached across this time, cupping her chin between thumb and forefinger and turning her face up to his. "I don't know, are you?"

Ha! From merlin back to canary so easily. He could see the shift and thrill in the depths of those eyes. She looked away, escaping from his touch and pulling back in on herself as she sat, arms circled around her legs. "That's for you to decide, isn't it?" She did add after a moment, "Just be very sure of what you are after."

Those words again. Felix smirked. He knew exactly what he was after, and he would have all of it. Still, seeing her curled up on herself brought him less joy than he would have expected. It was damnably cold out here. He shifted himself closer and wrapped one wool-clad arm across her shoulders, pulling her in.

The vehicles ground up a gravel and dirt road past fields gone fallow but still full of the remnants of past harvests seeding and living even without a human hand. They pulled in at a freshly cut open area with headlights barely casting dim reflections in the windows of a house further up.

Marinette pushed herself out still shaking the last webs of sleep from her brain. Under the fuzz she felt refreshed, it had been a dead sleep the likes of which she couldn't even remember. Chloé dropped down over the side of the truck bed beside her and threw Felix's coat back up to him before grousing. "We need to get this fire going *now*"

Felix followed after Chloé, coat on but still undone. He gave Marinette a brief dismissive glance which she returned in equal measure. A quick reminder that bad things still existed in the world. The gaggle emerged from the other vehicle with a mix of wonder amusement and stretching. Mylene rounded to the back of the Yukon in a hurry and popped it open. Alya and Nino were last out with Nino helping Alya who moved gingerly for a moment before stiffening and making a dash for the fields. Mylene held a roll of toilet paper out to her like a baton for a runner.

"Looks like someone is in a hurry." Chloé mused at the display.

Marinette shot her an annoyed look which Chloé caught but the blond merely shrugged and rubbed her arms before moving Lukaward. Marinette crossed to Nino. "Is Alya okay?"

Nino gave her a brave smile,"My girl's fine, just fine. Stomach's a little upset is all. She's been fretting way too much over this thing, it's probably stress."

Marinette looked over to where Lila was attaching herself to Adrien's arm only to have him pull away to jog over and help Luka with the Truck's tailgate. "Or maybe it was something she ate."

If Nino picked up on it he didn't give any indication. "She'll be good, don't worry. She's already told me it'll pass. Hey, you want to direct the unload here? I gotta go help organize the rest since she can't exactly shout from a squat."

"Oh ew. Nino!" Marinette swatted his arm but he had put a smile on her face; that and seeing Lila's reaction to Adrien's flight.

He snickered but moved off. Marinette was able to delve into undoing all the hard work of an hour ago. With the other girls' help they stacked coolers and grocery bags in a spot indicated by Nino. Mylene broke out a small emergency pack for easy access. Rose got into the soda before they'd even finished and was a can deep into sugar bliss.

The guys were unloading the truck, starting with the wood for the fire. Almost immediately it became a game and then a contest. Instead of a neat woodpile the guys took turns chucking the split logs as far as they could with underhanded heaves scattering the fuel across the open yard.

Adrien and Felix teamed up to gather the fallen after Felix's one toss, a beautiful underhanded arcing throw, skipped and veered into the fields, making him the defacto 'winner' by the no-rules of the game.

"H'lo 'nette."

Marinette jumped. Juleka's voice wasn't something anyone except maybe Rose was used to. "Hi Juleka!" Marinette looked around and spotted Rose next to a trio of empty cans, on her fourth. "What's up?"

"C'r 'nloaded. C'n ya move 't?"

"Oh! Sure." Marinette took the keys from her friend and they both walked back to the Yukon. "Where to?"

"J'st 'way a b't. F'r sleep'n." Juleka brushed a hand through her hair, jerked her gaze back to the boys then clenched her fists and added."Good luck Marinette! We know you can do it!"

Marinette froze with her hand on the car door. The fire in Juleka's visible Amber eye, and the complete intelligible sentence were a double shock. The good vibes from her nap evaporated and she struggled not to show it. "Thanks." She said through a nervous smile.

Juleka retreated after her outburst, pawing her hair even more across her face but showing a hopeful smile. Marinette was left to pull the SUV back away from the firesite, later with the seats down it could hold a good number of people provided they were all on good terms.

Alya returned but held a whispered conversation with Nino at the fringe of the campsite before he opened the door to the truck for her and she vanished inside.

He caught Marinette's concerned look and put on a smile. "Don't worry Marinette, she's fine, just needs to lay down."

Marinette looked over towards the truck. "Don't you think someone should take her back? I could drive her."

Nino laughed. "No way dudette. She would kill me if I let you run away this time. You want to do her a favor? Don't go home single." Another nudge.

Lila was always near Adrien. Not clinging, but there. Marinette tried to think of a way to maneuver in, come up with some plan that would separate the two of them for long enough. How long would be long enough? She ran through scenarios while they were setting up and cooking food. Twice Mylene had to gently remind her that her hot dog was on fire.

Another gentle whisper of encouragement. A passing pat on the shoulder. 'You can do it.' 'I believe in you.' 'Don't be afraid.' Each one another little boost but also another little weight. The group around the fire thinned. Nino and Luka went to battle with the sound setup which was still not working. Chloé announced out of the blue she was going to check out the farmhouse because 'I am NOT sleeping on the ground tonight.' Shortly afterwards Felix commented she shouldn't be off alone and followed. Rose had sugar crashed against Juleka's shoulder and was dozing until she could reset herself.

Adrien was smiling at her. Wait, they were 'together' here. She could just go sit by him. Lila couldn't stop her. All she had to do was go sit down beside Adrien and... ask him out? She had to. That's what this was all about. That's what everyone was here for. Don't worry about too soon or too late. Keep it simple. Just… go ask him. Right there, next to Lila. Just look into those green eyes and say 'hey Adrien, do you want to go out?' because that won't be awkward. Lila won't laugh, everyone else won't hold their breath. Scenarios flew in the flickering flames faster than she could even process them.

"Marinette?"

"Yes dear?"

Marinette blinked. She realized five pairs of eyes were all focused on her. She had been making breakfast for Emma, Louis, and Hugo. Adrien had just come down stairs fighting with his tie again and said her name and…

Adrien had said her name. And she had...

Marinette very slowly set her cooking stick down. Five pair of eyes watched her. Ever so slowly she stood. Five pairs of eyes watched her. Adrien gave her one of his soft smiles. Marinette broke. She fled.