Author Note: AU. Chloe bought the Watchtower herself, and she and Jimmy were never engaged.

Thanksgiving

Chloe sat at the table, yet again surprised at the large quantity of food Mrs Kent had been able to provide. Even with the help of Lois and herself, the food smelled delicious. She had been particularly proud that she hadn't burned the home made dinner rolls.

She looked down the table at the smiling faces as they spoke about what they were thankful for. It took biting the inside of her cheek to prevent tears from forming in her eyes. As much as she loved her friends, it was hard not spending the holiday with her father. It would have been nice to have the support from Jimmy, but he was with his family.

Glancing across the table, she saw Oliver laughing at something Lois had said. On the surface, you would think that everything was sunshine and roses between them again, but Chloe could tell. Lois wasn't happy, and it wasn't just because of Oliver's recent experimentation with pharmaceuticals.

Chloe hoped that they would last, but it didn't seem likely. Oliver wasn't ready to tell her his secret, and Lois hated being lied to. That, and she was sure that Lois had just a small crush on Clark. They both deserved someone who they could be completely honest with.

Her phone beeped and she looked at the text message from Jimmy. She smiled at the short message, wishing he could have been sat next to her to try Mrs Kent's amazing turkey.

Perhaps next year things would be different.

Oliver was still laughing as Lois handed him the bowl of mashed potatoes.

He was happy that Lois had forgiven him, but he still felt a knot of guilt in his stomach. If she could know the whole story, and the reason he tried the serum, he was sure that she would have been more understanding. Now she was left with the impression her billionaire boyfriend had decided to experiment with recreational drugs.

If he thought that there was the slightest possibility that telling her about his green leathered identity would be successful, he would. Deep down, he knew that she wouldn't take it well. If anything, her reporter's ego would be bruised.

Oliver knew that she would probably work it out, eventually. He'd just have to enjoy this relationship while he could. It would hurt when things ended, sure, but at least he would have happy memories to think back on when he was patrolling the cold streets at night.

He watched as Lois mocked Clark over his farm boy ways, and his blush was her reward.

The end of their relationship wouldn't be as devastating to Lois. She would find someone else without any trouble.

He heard the beep of a text message, and looked up to see Chloe smiling at her phone.

It wasn't the happy smile that he was used to seeing on the blonde's face. Who could blame her? Lois told him that Chloe was in a relationship with a guy named Jimmy. What he couldn't understand was where the man was.

Jimmy should have been there at Mrs Kent's table, or at least he should have invited Chloe to spend the day with his family. Their relationship spanned a lot longer than his and Lois'.

Oliver could tell that she was putting on a brave face, and he couldn't help but wonder why no one else seemed to notice. He'd have to speak to Lois later. With all the help Chloe had given them lately, she deserved some help of her own.

Someone had to care for the caretaker.

Oliver handed her the potatoes, and Chloe returned his smile.

He was a good man, in more ways than one. The desperate turn he had made to healing drugs was the act of a man trying to compete in a world full of superheroes.

She'd make time to talk to him later, and make sure he was really okay. After spending so much time around those with meteor powers, and aliens, she understood where his fears came from. He was a mortal hero; facing danger and pissing off the wrong people on a daily basis,

Chloe understood the need for wanting that little bit of protection. He had to know that she was there is he needed an understanding ear...and if he scared Lois like that again, she'd shoot him herself.

Christmas

Oliver stared at the bottom of the empty whiskey glass in his hand. It didn't matter. There was more in the decanter next to him. He'd already polished half of the bottle since returning from his patrol that night.

He was sure that there would be some opportunists out there, looking to ruin someone's Christmas, but the streets had been empty. It seemed that even the low lifes of Metropolis had people to be with tonight.

As he poured another drink he heard the sound of his elevator activating. He looked over to the screen that was sat on his desk. From here it looked like Chloe.

He shook his head and took a swig of the liquor. Chloe Sullivan would be somewhere warm, wearing a silly Christmas jumper, eating too many sugar cookies with family.

It took him by surprise when the blonde in question actually stepped out of the elevator.

She didn't stop to look at him. She just walked straight to his secret room behind the clock face and slid what looked like a CD through the gap at the floor.

"Chloe?" He called out.

He watched her jump almost two feet in the air, her hand clutching her chest.

"Oliver! What are you doing here?"

He snorted with amusement. The alcohol was definitely having an effect. "It's my home, remember?"

Now that the adrenaline in her system was settling, she stood a little straighter. "I didn't think you'd be home. I wanted to leave you something to look at next time you were on patrol."

"You're working on Christmas?" Was all he could think to ask. That wasn't the happy image he'd had, and she was ruining it.

"Sure, why not? Lois is visiting the General, so I'm just trying to keep occupied."

Oliver was about to ask why she wasn't spending at least part of the day with her boyfriend, when he remembered Clark mentioning something about a break up.

"Don't tell me that the Kent farm isn't throwing a party with all the trimmings?"

"Lana is spending the day with Clark today. I've spent enough time being the third wheel in that relationship." Chloe walked over to him and sat next to him on the couch.

"Well, you're more than welcome to keep me company."

"I don't think I should…" She said with uncertainty.

"I'm sure there's a frozen dinner waiting with our names on it." He said, while touching her nose with his finger.

Chloe frowned before nodding towards the glass in his hands. "How much have you had to drink tonight?"

Oliver shrugged. "Enough to tolerate bad movies and worse food."

He could feel her looking him over. If she complained about his drinking, he'd just have to keep her quiet with egg nog.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay for a couple of hours." She said slowly, almost like she was trying to convince herself.

"Great. Take this." He handed her his glass before fixing himself another.

"I don't think this is my kind of drink." She said, scrunching her nose up after a sip.

"You get used to it." He sat back down next to her, and clinked their glasses together. "So why aren't you spending the day with your dad? Lois told me he lived somewhere in Kentucky?"

"Yeah. He's spending the holidays there."

"So…"Oliver waited patiently for her to continue, pouring a little more alcohol into her glass until the silence forced her to talk.

"We haven't spoken for a while." She took a large swig from the glass, grimacing at the taste. "He never really forgave me for my deal with the Luthors. After the day our house was bombed, our whole relationship changed. I wasn't his little girl anymore."

"Fucking Lex Luthor." Oliver said, not hiding his hatred.

"Dad thought I was doing that too." She said, staring intently into her lap.

"Don't." Oliver said, waving his free hand in front of his face. "There are some things that shouldn't be visualised."

"I'll try not to be offended by that." Chloe said, now drinking a little quicker.

Oliver could see the flush of her cheeks. It was only then he realised that she probably didn't drink much, and the hard liquor was having a quick effect.

"You weren't though...right?" he asked

"God, no! My sex life isn't quite that depressing...or interesting." She slipped off her shoes and got more comfortable on the couch. "So, do you do this every year?"

"Yeah."

"You have so many friends, why be alone?"

"No real friends would spend the whole day with me."

Chloe slapped him on the arm before he had a chance to explain.

"Ow!" He rubbed the sore spot on his arm, "You know what I really mean. Sober Chloe would know."

"I am perfectly sober." Her words were solid, but her eyes were taking on a slightly glazed look.

"Everyone has family or loved ones to spend Christmas with. The only people willing to spend the day with me before were publicity chasing, gold diggers." Oliver downed the rest of his drink, and began pouring another. He should be used to being alone during the holidays, but it always hurt more when people looked to take advantage of that.

"I'm still debating if I'm offended." Chloe said, looking him in the eyes. Oliver noticed the slight sway in her body as he filled her glass too.

"Well, you shouldn't be. You of all people shouldn't be alone today. You're a good person. You don't deserve a life like this."

"Really?" She asked, amused.

"You should have a house, kids, a career. You shouldn't be mixed up with Clark or me...or the others. We're bad news."

"It's my choice, and I'm happy that I made it. It's worth all the sacrifices."

Oliver thought back to her failed relationship with Jimmy. He wondered what else she'd had to give up along the years for Clark, aside from her dad.

"It's not all bad," She continued, "I have people who I can depend on."

They sat there in silence for several minutes. It was nice to spend a comfortable pause in conversation with a woman. There was never much quiet when he had been in a relationship with Lois. Spending time with Chloe was peaceful. Soothing, even.

After a while, Oliver began to feel drowsy. "I think I'm going to have to skip the frozen dinner."

He stood on shaky legs and almost toppled onto Chloe.

"C'mon, Hero. Let's get you to bed." She said with a sympathetic smile.

"If you wanted to get between my sheets, you only had to ask Chloe." He said as she tried to support him. Her own level of intoxication didn't make them the steadiest of pairings.

He showed her the way to his bedroom, where he promptly flopped onto the bed.

"I'll give you a call tomorrow." She promised.

"Stay."

"I'm not having sex with you." She said with an amused smile.

Oliver laughed. "As beautiful as you are, I meant to sleep. We've drunk too much; you can't drive."

"I can get a ride." She argued, as she leaned against the doorframe.

"I don't want to be alone, Chloe." He said in a small voice.

It cost him a lot to say that, but the thought of another Christmas night spent drunk alone was just too depressing to handle. Knowing that she would be going home to the same made the offer even more appealing.

Chloe didn't say anything. She simply slipped onto the bed behind him, pulling over a blanket to cover them both.

She put her arm around him and hugged him. "Merry Christmas, Oliver." She whispered.

He held onto the hand that was draped over his chest and gave it a squeeze. "Merry Christmas, Chloe."

He'd had worse Christmases.