Well...heh...hey, guys! Please don't murder me...I know it's been over 2 months since I've written anything. But this started out as an RP with Riina Kwaad and just sort of mutated. I get ideas like that. And she hasn't watched the show for a few years, so I'm largely in part writing this. She can claim the name Alex Johnson as hers, but the concept of his existence was my idea.

I'm also not sure if the years are accurate...and yes, I know it wouldn't take nearly ten years for Oliver and Chloe to have a kid, but I needed Alex to be old enough for the story to make any sense at all.

-SMALLVILLE: THE FINAL SEASON-

Metropolis, Kansas

December 12, 2017

10:30 PM

Frowning, I looked up at the clock on the wall. Late. Damn. My frown deepened as I turned back to the box of old LuthorCorp crap that I'd been told to either look over or get rid of. I figured it was because I was so popular around the office. Whoever said that being CEO and having your name on the side of the building gave you any remote pull or influence was clearly lying. Groaning, I was about to shut down my computer as I felt vibrating coming from my back pocket. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I smiled at the caller ID.

"Hey, 'Tower."

I could just imagine her frustration; was able to envision her impatiently brushing a wisp of blond hair out of her illustrious green eyes.

"Ollie, where are you?"

"Work," I replied honestly, staring at the piles of old LuthorCorp papers surrounding my desk.

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious!" I protested, running my fingers through my hair. "You think that going through his documents is fun? Chloe, I-" But my voice trailed off into something unintelligible as I picked up a certain piece of paper that held the picture of a young boy who was nearly the spitting image of how Lex had been. According to the legal document, the boy's name was "Johnson, Alexander." His birth date was a few odd years before I had taken up my own personal vendetta upon the Luthors.

"Ollie?"

"Chloe, I-" I cleared my throat before folding up the document and stuffing it into my pants pocket. "I'm coming back to Watchtower. There's something…I think you should see."

"Sure," she answered, her voice as bright as ever. Then it changed to concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"…Yeah, Chlo," I answered. "Yeah, I'm fine. Look…I'll see you soon." I was about to end the call, but…

"And Ollie?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." Wow. Even after years of marriage, it still reduced me to silence every time she said it. And the fact that I could say it back…and sincerely mean it…was still a new feeling for me.

"I love you too…sidekick."

-SMALLVILLE: THE FINAL SEASON-

"Chloe!"

Turning around from one of her many computers, she smiled brightly at my appearance, though I didn't return it.

"You should be resting."

"Please, Ollie," she said, rolling her eyes at me. "I'm pregnant, not disabled. Besides, all this 'resting' is driving me insane." Shaking her head exasperatedly, she rested her head on my chest as I wrapped her into the tightest hug that her expanding stomach would allow me. "I'm fine."

I looked at her doubtfully. "If you say so." As she stepped back, I pulled the paper out of my pocket and handed it to her, my expression one of tentative fear. Chloe opened it, her eyes growing wide."

"You're trying to tell me that-"

"Yeah," I confirmed. "There's a little Lex somewhere out there."

"Oh, God," she whispered, her hand unconsciously drifting toward her stomach, as it did when she was nervous. "Oliver…"

"Look…I don't think it's bad yet. He's still just a kid, right?" I asked. She shrugged. "And I thought that if Watchtower tracked him down, we could…" But my confident voice faded at her gaze. She didn't say anything…just simply…stared.

"We could…what? Raise him?" she asked incredulously. I looked down shamefully, shrugging my shoulders.

"Something like that."

She sighed, nodding. "You want to train him, don't you?"

"I dunno," I answered.

"Then what's your plan?" Chloe placed her hands on her hips and continued to stare.

"I don't have one," I responded honestly. "I just know that I want him to trust me. I want him to trust the League…to know us as a family."

"Clark's not going to like this," was her only comment. I bit my lip. I hadn't even taken our farm-boy-slash-alien friend into account.

"Clark doesn't need to know," I decided. "This kid…Alexander…look. He's not destined to be evil like Lex. If we give him the family he needs…he'll be one of us."

Chloe pursed her lips. "You're taking a huge risk, Oliver," she finally said, causing my genius smile to slowly fade. "Normally…you know I'd agree. But you have to realize that this isn't just about us anymore!" I immediately looked down, gently taking her hand in mine. She was right, as she always was. More often than not, I found myself being nostalgic…wanting what used to be. Because now it wasn't just us. As fearless as Chloe is, she's not invincible. And if she's put in danger…our baby would be in danger. She's risked so much of herself in the time I've known her…but that's one step too far. She would never risk her own child.

I placed our joined hands on her abdomen, seeing the subtle trace of a tear on her pale cheek. "I'm sorry, Chloe," I whispered, leaning in closer to her. But when she looked up, her expression was one that was all-too familiar. It was one of determination.

"You probably have the best judgment of anyone I know," she said simply, her bright green irises penetrating my dark brown.

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, Oliver, I do," she retorted.

I frowned, opening my mouth to argue. "But…Clark…he's always been-"

"Clark always means well," she interrupted. "But you know perfectly well that our friend's way to see the good in people has become too much. He doesn't risk nearly as much as you do. You're human, Ollie. You know what it's like to be at the bottom. And you know what it takes to do what needs to be done. And…as hard as he tries, Clark will never understand that."

After my initial shock, I smiled gently and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you."

"…And…Oliver, if you know that this is the right thing to do…I trust you," she admitted quietly. "But if you feel like something's wrong…I want you to have the judgment to know when you're in too deep." She looked down, almost…nervous. "I want my son to have a father."

I started to nod, but then frowned. Before I could stop it, my face split into a shit-eating grin. "Wait…did I miss something?" I asked. Chloe looked up, a smile lighting up her pale features. "Son?" She bit her lip, slowly nodding. "How long have you-"

"Only since yesterday," she answered. "I…I wanted to surprise you."

I nodded, letting loose a sigh. "You did," I agreed simply. I enfolded her in my arms and smiled, closing my eyes, finally…content.

"Ollie," she mumbled, "We have to do something about Lex, Jr." I stepped back to look into her eyes, filled with something probably similar to hope.

"He goes to Excelsior Prep," I said, "I can talk to the headmaster tomorrow…arrange something." Chloe smiled warmly.

"Okay," she said, turning around to type something into the computer. Grinning to myself, I snuck an arm around her waist, rubbing her rounded abdomen. She jumped, but leaned into the embrace.

"Even though I'm not going to be here tomorrow, I want you to take it easy," I reminded her quietly. "I'll call Clark if need be."

"What?" she asked, her eyes widening as she shifted in my arms to face me. "You don't trust me?"

"I know you too well," I countered as she turned back to the screen, me continuing my exploration of her stomach.

"But Excelsior, huh?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I've heard you have some influence over there, Mr. Queen." I grinned and kissed the top of her hair.

"Indeed I do, Mrs. Queen," I responded, my hand stopping on the side of her enlarged abdomen, feeling something move. The sensation made my grin expand and hold Chloe tighter. She responded, letting out a heavy sigh. Almost closing my eyes, I couldn't help but to wonder about the small, innocent human being that resided in my wife's stomach. My son…

"He's going to be a strong little guy, Ollie," she said, her voice as close to a whisper as it could be.

Before I could stop myself, I asked, "How do you know?"

She turned her head and reached up to kiss my lips, smiling, and her eyes bright, as they always were. "I just know."

"Well, I know that his mommy is the strongest person I've ever known," I mumbled, her face almost touching mine. "She saved my life…sacrificed herself for me." At my words, she looked down, her face slightly red. "So then he's going to be quite a bit like her."

"His daddy is stronger," Chloe said, her voice quiet. "He puts his life at risk every day…to keep everyone safe. Including us." Remembering what I had told myself ten years ago, that I had failed her…I blinked back a tear of regret. "Mommy worries about him very much…but she's extremely proud of him for-" Not letting her finish, I leaned down and captured her lips in a deep kiss. She leaned in closer, responding with more fervor than I would have thought. Releasing me, she whispered, "Though…I'm not sure if Mr. Arrow is feeling up to going on patrol tonight."

I grinned, taking her hand and leading her over to the couch on the far side of the circular room. "I'm going to stay in tonight," I admitted, seeing the look on my wife's face. "I think the city can deal without the Green Arrow until tomorrow." As we sat down, she bent forward to kiss me again.

"I love you, Oliver."

"I know." Chloe slapped me across the chest, though not nearly hard enough to wipe the grin off my face. "Ow. I mean, I love you too, Chloe." She rested her body against mine, and I kissed her forehead, then her hair again. "My Watchtower." After I got no response, looking down, I saw that she had fallen asleep in my arms. I gazed at her for a moment, lightly brushing my fingertips across her abdomen. I tucked a lock of her blond hair behind her ear, whispering, "G'night, sidekick," before adjusting myself on the large couch to lie beside her. I felt myself drifting off to sleep, satisfied that my family was safe in my arms.

I'd worry about Alexander Johnson and Excelsior Prep when I woke up.

-SMALLVILLE: THE FINAL SEASON-

Please let me know what you think...I'm not too sure if the idea is that great...our RPs are often not coherent, happening at the ungodly hours of the night when we're trying to stay awake to do homework. I mean, like I said before, I mutated the idea. In the RP, Chloe wasn't preggers and they weren't even together. But the basic idea of Alex was the same. But I figured that readers like Chlollie, so that's what you're getting. :)

Coming up next...Oliver meets Alex, and sees someone besides Lex in the eleven-year-old. The boy has a surprising role model. Oliver and Chloe talk about what it means to sacrifice something for what you want...and what you love the most.

I like reviews and story alerts, etc., but I promise, I'm not going to beg for them.

William D. J. Watson