"Such a hardship," 'Chelle teases as the doorbell goes. "I think that's our cue to leave."

"Ready?" Zev murmurs into Nova's ear. 

They haven't been out since Aaren found them.

He shrugs a little - he doesn't know, but it"s fine, right?

"I'm with you, no matter what, all right?"

He smiles, nods a little.

Aaren's moved their picnic to the hall and returns with the jackets that had been hung in hallway along with gloves and hats and scarves. "Wrap up warm."

Zev kisses Nova's temple, and then helps Nova into his coat, giggling a little as he buttons it the whole way up to his chin.

Nova giggles as well, and returns the favour.

Ant sticks eir head into the kitchen. "C'mon," ey encourages. "Cuteness awaits!"

"It's already here," Zev crows, cuddling around Nova again.

"Okay. Fair. But more cute!" Ey bounces in place. "Also, Ira's boss heard 'family day out' and banned Ira from working."

"Then I suppose we had better move." 

Zev simply changes his position from entirely-wrapped-around-Nova, to just holding his hand. 

Ant grins and leads the way outside at a skip. Sure enough, Ira is leaning against what is clearly Steve's car, parked in the street in front of Aaren's driveway.

"We're splitting into two cars, four people in each. Your choice where you go?"

"Oh." Three people already in both. He clings a little tighter to Nova. "We...I don't want to disrupt anyone."

"We're all pretty flexible. And Ira and 'Chelle can drive either car. Your choice where you two go."

"'Chelle?"

"I'm a better driver than Ira," 'Chelle says cheerfully.

"You wish, bluebottle."

"Not to insult you, Ira the incredible, but I would rather go with whomst I know."

His arm tightens around Nova.

"I'll get in with Steve, Ira and Ant," Aaren says to Lan. "You know where you're going, Sparky?"

"Yup. Now let's all stop standing around in the cold," 'Chelle pulls open the back door of her dad's car and smiles at Zev and Nova.

Zev smiles gratefully at her, and then pulls Nova into the correct car, nuzzling him as much as possible.

He snuggles into Zev's side.

"Seatbelts please," Lan says, pointing out where they are. "Safety first and all that."

After some searching, Zev finds the belts, and fastens them with some glee over himself and Nova.