So many times, being lost has nothing to do with where you are and everything to do with where you are going. He was lost long before the Queen's Gambit sank.
He came awake with a jolt of panic, arm instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed. As his fingers brushed against the soft skin of her bare shoulder, he relaxed. As long as she was with him, nothing else in this world seemed to matter. He didn't bother opening his eyes. He knew it was morning, and that there were things to do today, but for the life of him he couldn't make himself care. He heard her mumble something in her sleep as she began to stir. Rolling over he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
"Oliver…"she mumbled again, "We have to get up." Her voice was heavy with sleep and it sounded like she didn't want to any more than he did, but he knew she would never let them stay in bed when there were more important things to do. (According to her, they were more important, but at the moment he didn't think anything was more important than what was in his arms.) When he didn't move or respond she raised her voice a little. "Come Oliver. I'm serious."
He took a deep breath and let it out near her neck. His breath ghosted over skin causing her to shiver. He smiled to himself and pulled her tighter before releasing her. He raised himself up on his elbow and she leaned back so now he was looking down at her. She was beautiful. Her blond hair fanned out over the pillow and her eyes lazily blinking, trying to adjust to the soft light of dawn in the room. He leaned down and gently kissed the tip of her nose. "I love you." He whispered, before placing a soft kiss on her lips. She leaned up into his lips and he smiled. "I thought we were getting up?"
"We are." She sighed, nuzzling his neck before she rolled away from him and sat up.
Today was the day. The day he proposed. He had finally found the perfect moment, the Star City Christmas Tree Lighting tonight. He would declare to the world that he was no longer lost. He would finally find his way home.
