Marinette woke up at 4:00 am again, at least this time it wasn't from a nightmare she mused to herself. She left her bed and sat on the armchair she kept by the window. Watching the stars and moons reminder her of her balcony back in Paris. She wrapped herself in the quilt she made herself. After four months of waking up at 4:00 from nightmares, she figured her body was just used to it now. It was only an hour earlier than she planned on getting up anyway. Four months.... Had it really been that long already? She had found herself referring to here as home, it's not that she didn't want to go back to her family and her boyfriend, but her heart was tired of hoping that they would. 

She and Nino both had started investing in this place, that was probably her fault, after about a month of being here and really only spending time with Edward, Maryweather and Alice, Henry and Vik. She'd had a breakdown. She could still remember the look on Nino's face when he walked in the door that day. 

"Hey Mar! I'm home! Man, that kid Henry set me up with to second with is straight fire!" He walked in from their small entryway, "Woah... Mari, you've made enough baked goods to feed a small army...." 

"Well it was my solos first day off since we got here, and once I wasn't busy my mind started going places it really shouldn't so I figured I would bake some treats for Alice and the other designers at the boutique and well I guess I kinda let things get out of hand... Oh, Nino! It's 5:30 and I haven't even started supper yet! I'm so sorry I was so busy baking..." her eyes flood with tears.

"Hey now" Nino quickly came a gave her a hug, "Breath for me." She did and the oven dinged, she left Nino's warm hug and pulled her last tray of goodies out of the oven. "Look today's Friday, the night's still young, go wash up and but on something nice, and I'll take you out for dinner, and tomorrow we can figure out what to do with all the goodies." He smiled softly. 

She gave him a soft smile, "That sounds really nice Nino, can we try dinner in the little hotel? Alice said it was her favourite spot in the village center? And I've only eaten at the bar when you DJ." she took off her apron and hung it up. "As for the goodies, I was thinking we could take some to the staff families here? We haven't met them yet and I want to." 

Nino had agreed with her so, after their first night out, they packaged up goodie trays to take to all the families. And just like that, they were apart of the bigger family. They helped babysit, which helped them battle some of the homesick feelings, they were invited over for dinner, there wasn't a weekend that went by where they weren't babysitting or having dinner with families. It was also thanks to the Families that Nino and Mari started taking a weekly dance class, it had become the break they often needed, it was something that felt familiar to them, like a touch of Pairs. 

Marinette had formed almost a daughter like bond with one for the older women Jenifer, on the homestead, she was married to the Ferrier, he loved taking care of the horses, Jenifer like Mari loved to bake and sew, she had been the one to suggest to Mari if her nightmares were waking her up, she might as well just get up and start her day. After that Mari had started getting up at 5:00 and by 5:30 was out and about greeting the workers as they did their early morning chores. Sometimes she'd go and help hand out tea and coffee, other times she visits the stable workers. Then once she had done her rounds she'd go have morning tea with Jenifer on her front porch until her husband came in for breakfast. Then Mari would return to her home and make breakfast for her and Nino. Sometimes Nino joined her but not often, his DJ gig required later nights, so he often got to know the night crew better. 

Her alarm went off. She smiled and turned it off. She slipped into the bathroom, Nino had been kind enough to give her the master bedroom, so she had the ensuite. She washed her face and braided her hair and slipped on what she called her farm clothes. It was a tan skirt and dark brown long bell sleeve blouse that on cooler mornings she paired with a wool cape Alice had given her. Maryweather had also helped her find a pair of lace-up boots to wear around the farm. Mari solemnly wore pants anymore, she found the skirts to be more freeing, she wondered if that would change when it snowed. If it snowed here, she'd have to ask someone about that. 

She quietly slipped out of the house and watched the sun raise the rest of the way. Today would be a good day. 

***

The day had been good, Alice had explained the seasons of Dou Luna, their seasons seemed to revolve around the farming district, The Planting which reminded her of spring, the Growing, which sounded like summer, the Harvest which was clearly was fall and the Rest, which sounded like winter. During the Rest the ground just froze and got hard but for about two weeks every season they got a hefty snowfall just in time for the sun and the two moons to all lineup and that day was a holiday. 

This conversation inspired Mari, she spent that afternoon drawing in the studio. Harvest was coming up, so she was looking at the colours that reminded her of fall back in Paris. She had an idea for a dress that was a play on the overall dress, only women didn't seem two wear overalls here, so she took this corset-like vest that seemed to be quite popular to wear over a blouse and added a skirt to it. She had to admit it looked good, but she would likely still make an overall dress for herself if she could find a way to make it warm... She noticed that people didn't care what she wore calling it earther style they more cared what she sold. Which suited her fine. 

She looked at the clock, it was almost 5, Nino's workday was done in thirty minutes. Using her wristband she sent Nino a message, it took some getting used to but she likes the simple form of texting. 

Hey Ninny! Rather than going home before dance class would you like to have a picnic in the park? I can grab food from the market, I'm basically done at the studio. 

Nettie I don't have my dance clothes! Otherwise, I'd be so down!

You know how I packed your lunch today? I placed your dance clothes in the box of your bike. :) 

Mar! You sneaky girl you! You had this plan all day! Alright, meet you at the park by the pond? In 35?"

Love it see you soon!

Mari hopped on her cherry-red electric bike and zipped through people and found her way to the market. She loved this market, she would love to have booth her for her baking every now and then, but she and Nino were trying to keep a balance of involvement and uninvolved. She found her way to her favourite food vendor, Jennifer's daughter and her husband, "Hey Ally, what do you have for a dinner for two?"

"Hey! Mariette let's see, I've got chicken salad sandwiches or BLTS left from today, I assume you've got cookies in your bag? So you don't need my mothers." She teased. 

"I may have planned to have a picnic with Nino since this morning. Let's go with BLTs. Their Nino's favourite. Got any of that famous lemonade?"

"Both Regular and Rasberry." 

"One of each please." With her goodies paid for, she got back on her scooter and headed to their favourite spot at the park. She set up a panic blanket and got herself comfortable. While she waited for Nino she started drawing designs for her overall dress. 

She had been so in the zone that she hadn't heard Nino walk up, he placed his hands over her eyes and whispered "Guess who?" She jumped.

"Nino!" she turned and hit his arm. "You scared me!" He toppled over laughing. 

"Sorry, Nettie! But you make it too easy." He sat next to her and looked over her shoulder. "Ohh what's this?" 

"It's an overall dress, you know like the ones they had back in Paris? I want to make one, but I want to make it for the cooler month, but I still the fun flowly look...." She sighed "Tulle isn't exactly warm..." 

"Could you use like a think cotton as an underlayer?" Nino smiled. 

"I suppose I cou... Hey! You have been listening to me! You really do listen when I ramble on about sewing stuff!" 

Nino chuckled, "Of course Mare! I love watching your passion grow!" 

Mari giggle and closed her book, she pulled out the supper bought. Nino's eyes lit up. "Hey, Nino do you know how long it's been?"

"We've got to be at what three months now?" He unwrapped his sandwich. 

"Four months today." She didn't look up.

"Oh... Wow, time sure is flying eh?" 

"Ya... Nino, do you ever get tired of waiting? Do you ever wish we could just fully commit to life here?" She glanced up at him, she knew she was asking a lot. He would know what she was implying. She nibbled on her sandwich waiting.

He fidgeted, not looking at her, his voice was soft, she almost couldn't hear him, "Am I a bad person if I say yes?"

"Only if I am." She moved closer to him. "I know that we would both go back to Paris in a heartbeat if we could. And I miss Adrien like crazy, I miss my parents, I want to see Alya... But life here is so good. And I want to be a part of it." She tried to keep her voice soft.

"Oh Mar, I thought it was just me." He gave her a hug. A tear ran down her cheek. 

"What about Adrien and Ayla?" She whipped the tears away. 

"Well, I would like to think that time is running the same here as it is there and that they like us, are seeing the unlikelihood of us coming back, and maybe they like us are finding in comfort in each other." He took a swing of his juice. 

She giggled, "If I had to pick some else for Adrien it would be Alya. She'd keep him in line, probably even get him out of his dad's control." 

"Oh man, seeing Alya lose it on that old man would be a sight to see!" Nino lost it. They both laughed for a few minutes. "Okay... Okay," he took a deep breath. "So where does that leave us?" 

Mari put her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze, "Let's take it slow, one day at a time, we both still love them, but have to let them go."

"One day at a time, I like that. No more waiting, just living." He squeezed her hand. 

They ate in peaceful silence for a while then Mari looked over at Nino. "Hey, Nino?" He looked over at her. "I know this is gonna sound mean, but I'm glad that it's you here with me."

"Don't you wish it was Adrien?"He cooked his head. 

"Well at first I did, but Adrien is reckless, it why he has the Cat Miraculous, The Cat acts on impulse, without the worry of the damage it does. Because his partner has his back. Keeps him in check." She sighs, "Even when he's not in his mask, Adrien acts without thinking, remember how he treated Chole? He is naively unaware of the damage he does because we clean up after him, he's gotten better but well he's a cat." She giggles "But I love him." 

"What about Alya?" Nino knew how close the two girls were.

She giggled, "The holder of the fox is quick, thinks on their feet, but also acts on impulse, and is also stubborn. And that is Alya to a T, she fights for everyone but doesn't always think about her actions, sometimes not seeing how her illusions or stories hurt people. Her quick actions are also why she got akumatized so often. She doesn't always think before she acts."

Nino chuckled,  "Ya okay your right." 

"Don't get me wrong they are great teammates and even better partners, but..." 

"There is a reason they aren't the team leaders. But I'm not a leader either Mar." 

She stared at him, "Your kidding right...." He looked at her with an eyebrow raised, "Nino so you might not be in charge like me, but you are the team's protector, you keep us safe, you stay calm, cool and collected in battle. You and I have the Miraculous's we have because we can keep a level head no matter how messed up things get. So even though I love Adrien and would have loved to spend forever with him, I would have had to been the one with the level head all the time, with you we take care of each other, being strong when the other can't. "

"You think too highly of me Mare." Nino smiled and shook his head and started to help clean up. "But I'm glad that you're here with me too." She felt her cheeks turn red, and she tried to hide it from him. He stood and offered her his hand, "To dance class?" 

She smiled and nodded, "To dance class." With her hand in his, they walked through the park back to their scooters, and Mari smiled to herself, Today had been good.