Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit, for entertainment only.

Spoilers and changes to the timeline: Dark Thursday never happened, Lex is bad, but not evil (similar past to the show without the more extreme things, ie. he never kidnapped Chloe). He dated Lana to try to learn Clark's secret for a short time, but there was no marriage or baby. The larger issues of alien invasions will not play in this story, but there are still meteor freaks, and Lex's interest in meteor freaks. Chloe and Clark are 21, Lois two years older but the same year in college, Oliver and Lex are older (6-7 years).

AN- the response to this story is unexpected, but welcome, so thanks to all the reviewers.

Money can't buy love

Chapter 3

"Ollie?"she asked shakily, wondering if she'd conjured him up, just from the power of her thoughts. But no, his hands were gripping her arms, the warmth from them solid and real. "What are you doing here?"

"I…" he frowned, taking in her pale face and too dark eyes. "Are you OK?" He pulled her closer to him, just inches separating them, and looked around for trouble. "Did something happen?"

She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come. Something had happened. And Chloe did not feel alright. But she wasn't hurt, not in the way Oliver meant. "I'm fine."

Satisfied that no one was going to jump out and attack them, he relaxed and brushed his fingers over her cheek. "You're pale. Are you sick?"

She blinked up at him. "No. I'm not sick. I'm fine, I promise." Looking up at him it was so glaringly obvious that he cared about her, that Chloe felt like a fool. She broke their stare and looked down. "I have to get home… I… I think I drank too much. Mixed my liquor maybe," she laughed nervously and Oliver frowned down at her.

"I'll… I'll see you later," she continued, and took a few steps backwards, almost tripping over an uneven piece of the sidewalk. She frowned and stopped, tilting her head. "Wait. What are you doing here?" She asked, then closed her eyes, realizing how she must sound. "Did you…"

"I was nearby, I thought I'd drop off the information I got for you."

She stared up at him, a pinched look on her face. "You didn't have to do that." She said, then flushed. "I mean, thanks, I appreciate it, but… it's not… it's important, I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't, but it's not urgent," she finally managed to string together a complete thought. In her mind she visualized herself walking to the brick wall of the bar and just pounding her head against it a few times until the world made sense again.

Oliver regarded her carefully. "I think I should take you home now," he said gently. Something was definitely wrong, but she was just as clearly not going to tell him about it. "Too much to drink, you said."

Chloe smiled brightly, clearly willing to grab at the excuse. "Yeah." Then she frowned. "But I'll walk. I need the air," she claimed, not wanting to be trapped in a car with him right now.

"Then I'll walk with you," he offered and Chloe felt herself deflate, her heart clenching at his transparent desire to spend some time with her.

Of course he'd offer to walk with her. He was Oliver. Even if he had just had friendly feelings for her he wouldn't want her walking home alone at night. Especially when she'd claimed to have had too much to drink. "But your car…" Chloe protested.

"I'll get it later," he dismissed her argument. She considered arguing some more, but his next words stopped her brain entirely. "The car's not important, but you are."

She felt her heart race as he took her arm, his hand gently steadying her until they reached a relatively more level portion of sidewalk.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, Oliver sensing that Chloe needed the time to get herself together. "You know, you can talk to me about anything, right?" He said in a soft deep voice that sent shivers down her back. "If you need help with anything, or just to talk, you know I'm here."

"I do," she said in a small voice, her throat burning as she ruthlessly held back her emotional upheaval. "I do now."

He smiled at her, and Chloe had to look away, feeling tears begin to well up, and not wanting him to see. She was so confused. If it was true, if Oliver had romantic feelings about her, then she had a lot to think about. And if he did, then that meant she had missed so much, stuck in her opinion about him, blind to how he really felt.

And if Oliver was interested in her, then she had to figure out how she felt, and quickly. She knew she was attracted to him. She usually refused to acknowledge it, would have denied it until she was blue in the face, but in the secret recesses of her own mind she knew it was true. She also liked him. Really liked him. But as a friend, or something more?

He was fun, and funny, and interesting, and while he was different from her, while he didn't seem to have her drive or need to make the world a better place, he was a decent person. He used his company to promote social good, advocated for social and economic justice. He wasn't a wastrel, as she'd once thought. But she'd never allowed herself to consider him as anything more than a friend. And now she didn't know what to think.

Silence hung between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable, despite the looks he kept shooting her direction.

As they finally entered her neighborhood, she lifted her head to smile up at him. "Thanks for walking with me. You're a really good friend Ollie." Oliver's happy smile and perplexed expression made Chloe feel guilty for how she'd treated him. "You are, and I'm sorry if I've never said it before."

Oliver grew serious, peering into her eyes, trying to figure her out that night. "You sure you're OK, Chloe? You seem... off."

She laughed but could feel that she was just a hair's breadth from it turning into a sob. "I swear, I'm fine. Perfectly healthy, just... thinking things over, you know?" she tried to make light of the night's revelations.

"Anything in particular?" He pushed for more detail.

"Yeah, one thing, in particular," she admitted, but continued vaguely. "But it's like flipping a switch... everything looks different in a new light."

"But you're not in any trouble, 'cause I could..."

She smiled, her eyes glowing at him in the darkness. "I promise, if I needed help you'd be one of the first people I'd call."

"Yeah?" he said, a faint tone of gratification mixing with the surprise in his voice.

"Yeah. I may not have a lot of close friends, but the ones I do have I know I can count on," she said seriously.

"I get that. I know a lot of people. But the number of people I consider real friends I could count on my hands."

"Ollie..." she said with compassion, realizing that so many people would just see dollar signs when looking at Oliver.

"Hey, as long as you have one person to have your back in a knife fight, you're doing alright. You have Lois, Clark, Lana..."

Chloe laughed. "Lana? really? Sure, she's a friend, a good friend, perfect for conversations about nail polish techniques and new fashion trends, but in a knife fight? Let's face it, you'd be the one at my back." She smiles, feeling a tinge for the former closeness in her relationship with Clark. He'd pulled back from her in the past year, focused more on crime fighting, football and Lana. And Chloe suspected he was keeping secrets from her again, but she knew that either he'd tell her or he wouldn't and so far he hadn't.

She wouldn't deny that it hurt, to be on the outside. She felt like she'd proved herself to Clark, earned his trust, but she wasn't going to obsess over it. He either trusted her or he didn't. And the fact was, he didn't. Another undeniable fact was that their lives were going in different directions. Chloe was graduating early. She knew what she wanted to do with her life. College had been about getting there, getting her degree, getting experience, and getting a job at the Daily Planet. Clark had spent college the same way he'd spent high school. Chasing after Lana, obsessing over Lana. Chasing bad guys that stumbled into his path, and obsessing over keeping his secret. His double life was even more complicated now, with the guys from the football team always around. And he still had no idea what he was going to do with his life, his gifts in the long run.

Somehow, Clark seemed more comfortable around people who didn't know his secret. He wanted to be normal. Chloe understood that. Sometimes she considered it. Trying to be normal. Moving back to Smallville or a small town not riddled with meteors and radiation hot spots. Having a life that revolved around family, getting married, having kids, becoming a soccer mom. There was an appeal there. She didn't deny it. But it wasn't what she wanted. It wasn't about excitement for Chloe, it was her drive. She needed purpose, needed to be doing something, helping to make the world better, either by taking down a corrupt politician or stopping a meteor powered criminal.

Chloe didn't want to be normal. She wasn't normal. There was no way with the life she'd led that she could be normal. And she embraced it. Since high school, Chloe had grown comfortable in her own skin.

Maybe Lana and Clark would end up raising a family on the farm, but Chloe would chafe in that life, longing for the city, longing for more.

Oliver grinned at her, looking around wildly.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for some wood to knock on... knowing you the hypothetical knife fight will manifest itself."

She laughed, slapping his arm. "Ollie. You know that I have your back too, right? And that I appreciate everything you've done for me?"

"Yeah, I know," he said easily, slowing his stride, not eager to reach her apartment building and be forced into saying good night. "You're one of the only people I've ever known who's said thank you to me for...well anything." Chloe frowned realizing that Lois and Clark both fell into that category, expecting Oliver to always offer up his resources whenever they were in need. Clark never thanked Chloe, just showing up and expecting her to drop everything for him, and Clark treated Oliver the same way from what Chloe had seen. Lois... well Lois treated everyone like that.

-Smallville-

At her apartment she felt jittery but invited him up for coffee. Oliver was surprised but accepted quickly, happy to have some more time with her, especially one-on-one time.

Sitting on Chloe and Lois's old, but comfortable, couch, Chloe sipped her coffee while Oliver drank a glass of water as they talked. Chloe had forced herself to act normal, keeping her inner turmoil under wraps, and Oliver had relaxed once she had.

Oliver had just finished telling her a funny story about running into a new hire's wife in the elevator and having to listen to the woman lecture him (nicely, he insisted) about autism research and their lack of funding. "What did you do?"

"I donated, what else was I supposed to do?"

Chloe laughed. "You are such a soft touch sometimes." Oliver smiled and took a drink from his glass, looking up to find Chloe still staring at him with a bemused look on her face.

"Do I have something on my face?" he asked with a cocky grin.

Chloe shook her head, trying to give him a stern look. "A whole lot of handsome, but other than that... no."

Oliver was taken aback. "Chloe Sullivan. Was that a compliment?"

She frowned. "Don't tell me I've never complimented you."

"Well if by complement you mean challenging everything I say or do... then sure, you're full of compliments."

"I'm sorry," she said with a pained look.

"Don't be, it's refreshing," he excused her previous behavior. He wasn't lying. While he wanted her good opinion, he liked that Chloe was honest with him, even when her honesty left him feeling raw.

She smiled, laughing a bit silently. "I'll bet. A girl who doesn't fall all over Oliver Queen at first meeting."

"I kinda like that I'm just Ollie to you," Oliver said softly.

Chloe swallowed hard, feeling all her confusion rising up again, strangling her with uncertainty. She tried to change the subject, "So what's going on with you Ollie?"

He frowned, wondering at the play of emotions on her face, but sat back against the cushions and told her about returning to Star City for a few weeks for work obligations. Chloe felt a silent dread creep into her chest and she realized she didn't want him to go.

"So besides the board meeting, there's a fundraiser." He shrugged. "I'd skip out, but it's for my mother's favorite charity."

Oliver was quiet for a moment, obviously thinking about his mother and Chloe reached out a hand, placing it on his forearm. "I'm sure she'd be proud you'll be there." Oliver looked doubtful, often having wondered what his parents would have thought about the life he'd chosen. "What charity is it?"

"Huh?" Oliver asked, having gotten lost in his thoughts. "Oh, education for girls."

"She was ahead of her time," Chloe said softly. "There's a ton of research out there now to show how lifting up girls in developing societies helps lift he whole society. Increased stability, health, education, economic grown, even…" She cut herself off seeing his large grin. "But you probably know all that."

"It's more fun to hear you talk about it than the old biddies that will be attending." He paused, then continued honestly. "I hate being there, being on display, alone, surrounded by people who knew my mother better than I ever will."

"When do you ever attend these things alone Ollie?" she asked with a bittersweet edge, suddenly wondering what beautiful woman he'd take with him.

"You'd be surprised." She looked at him incredulously. "Really. They get a picture of me with some woman at the party and the story is that I arrived with her or left with her."

"Or arrived with one and left with another. Or both." Oliver's look hardened, and Chloe realized how that must have sounded. "That's what the tabloids say. I didn't mean that I believed it."

"I'm not saying that I don't deserve my reputation, but it may not be accurate now," Oliver hedged.

"So what you're saying is that your rep as a ladies' man is totally made up?" Chloe said with a teasing smile.

He smiled debonairly, "I wouldn't go that far."

Chloe laughed and Oliver realized that she was flirting with him. He felt hope flare in his chest, but ignored it, not wanting to read too much into her actions. She'd been off kilter earlier that night, so maybe she was just… something. Oliver didn't know. Sometimes he felt like he knew Chloe so well, but other times he thought he only saw the tip of the iceberg. Chloe was still a mystery to him, but maybe there was a chance he'd get to unravel her one day.

"It's in Star City?" her question interrupted his internal dialogue.

"Yeah."

"If you don't want to go alone... maybe you could take a friend." When Oliver just looked confused she spelled it out for him. "I've always meant to take you up on your offer to visit Star City." Growing uncomfortable as Oliver continued to stare at her, she rambled on. "I've only seen the ocean twice... and never the Pacific. You know, another time. I- "

"I'd like that," Oliver interrupted her.

Chloe gave him one of her megawatt smiles. "When are you planning on leaving?"

"I was going to go fly out Thursday evening, but I can change the flight time."

"You don't have to do that."

"I own the plane Chloe, it can leave whenever I say." He said in a tone that didn't allow for argument. "How's Friday night? The benefit is on Saturday, and I could have you back by Sunday afternoon."

Chloe thought about her schedule, moving things around mentally. "But...if I'm going to fly halfway across the country, I think I should stay for more than a day and a half."

"Don't you have class?"

"I get all A's Ollie, I can miss a day of class."

-Smallville—

Five days later Chloe found herself aboard Oliver' private jet. She looked out the window as they descended through the clouds, eager for her first look at Star City. Oliver entered the cabin and dropped into a seat across from her, putting on his seatbelt before looking out the window with her.

They hadn't left Metropolis until after 6pm, so the sky was dark, but soon the lights of Star City were visible. An inky darkness to the west of the city was the ocean, Chloe knew, and while she was undeniably excited to see the ocean and picnic on the beach, at night from the plane it wasn't much to see. Chloe turned her attention to the large dark patch in the middle of the city, it's shape becoming apparent as they got closer.

"A star," she said with some humor, turning her head to smile at Oliver.

"Star City, Star Park."

"You left coasters might be a bit literal," she teased.

Oliver inclined his head in agreement. "It's a nice park. Lots of open space, trees, running trails, museums, a duck pond..." he said eagerly.

"I'm sure it's great," Chloe said softly. Wondering how she'd never seen Oliver's desire to please and impress her. "Maybe we can get to one of the museums while I'm here."

Oliver's warm expression made his agreement clear.

-Smallville—

Chloe stood on the deck of Oliver's penthouse loft overlooking the beach. The ocean spread out before her in ever shifting shades of blue and grey. Closer to shore, white capped waves washed up rhythmically on a pale sandy beach. The beach stretched a good few miles, ending on either side in cliffs. Chloe knew from research that this part of the California coast alternated beaches with crumbling cliffs.

The sliding glass door that was one portion of an entire glass wall in Oliver's home slide open, and Chloe turned to see Oliver dressed in workout clothes. Chloe was still in her pajamas, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "You woke up. Why didn't you come get me?" He questioned. He'd woken up early for an overseas call, made a pot of coffee for her, leaving a note on the machine that he was in his home gym.

"I just got up," she explained. "The view kind of distracted me."

Oliver nodded, knowing the draw the ocean held for many people. "You've never seen the Pacific before?"

"The General was stationed in Coast City for awhile, but..." Chloe shook her head with a wry smile. "Lois didn't last long there. She broke curfew one too many times, and the General sent her to boarding school in Vermont."

"I bet she loved that," Oliver laughed.

"Well," Chloe said, not expanding on Lois's feelings of abandonment and rejection by her only remaining parent. "I didn't get out to visit her in California anyway."

"You're here now."

"Thanks to you," she said simply, but with feeling.

"I'm the one who should be thanking you. You're doing me a favor by attending the event with me," Oliver said quietly.

Chloe smiled but shook her head in disagreement. "It's not a big deal Oliver, and I wanted to come. Friends help friends out, right?"

"Friends," Oliver repeated, a V forming between his eyebrows. Chloe had been sending mixed signals since the previous weekend, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. She'd definitely flirted with him, which was new. And her gaze seemed to focus on him and stay there, which was also new. He usually felt like she just skimmed over him, like he wasn't important enough to hold her interest before.

Oliver was happy to feel their friendship shift, become something closer, but he still wanted more from her than friendship. He wondered if making a move would ruin things or if he had a chance with her now.

-Smallville—

Chloe lay back on the sandy beach her moving her head side to side to make a comfortable indention for it in the lumpy, but easily shifted sand. The warmth from the sun seeped into her body as a cooling ocean breeze teased her hair into a mess. "I could stay here forever," she declared.

Oliver laughed, looking down at her from his position standing next to her in the sand. "You're going to get sand stuck in your hair. And everywhere else," he teased.

"That's a small price to pay for paradise," she said.

He set down the supplies he'd carried to the beach, ignoring the looks of the other beachgoers around them. Shaking out the large blanket, he set down the bag that held towels, a picnic basket and his shoes, using each to anchor down a corner of the blanket. Once he was done Oliver sat on the blanket and stretched out his long legs, fishing into the bag and pulling out a floppy straw hat. Setting it over Chloe's face, he grinned as her lips pushed out in a pout, the rest of her face hidden. "Spoilsport."

"It may be October, but you can still get burned." His mind drifted to a familiar fantasy, rubbing sunblock into her pale skin, his hands finally having free access to her curves. He pushed aside his lascivious thoughts and opened up the picnic basket. "Ready for lunch?"

"Starving," Chloe said eagerly, sitting up and walking on her knees until she was on the blanket beside him. Adjusting the hat he'd insisted on buying for her, Chloe noticed the stares. "Wow, that's..."

"I know, sorry. You'll get used to it," Oliver said with glum discomfort.

"Hmm," she said noncommittally. But tilted her head up so she could meet his eyes as she smiled. "So, what's for lunch?" she asked cheerily.

Chloe knew Oliver had feelings for her, once Lois and Lana had blurted out the truth, she would have had to bury her head in the (proverbial) sand to ignore it. Being with Oliver now was bittersweet. She felt the tug of sympathy for him, for how she'd treated him. Like most people, she knew what it was to want someone who didn't want you. Say hello to my teenage years, she thought with a twinge. She assumed it wasn't a common occurrence for Oliver, to actually like a woman and not have his affection returned. Not that he had many relationships that lasted more than a week.

Oliver was a playboy. Or he had been when Chloe had met him. That wasn't just her being bitchy, it was the simple truth. But since her eyes had opened, she'd begun to see, to finally acknowledge, that while Oliver had his flaws, the good outweighed the bad.

The question now was could she return his affection? She was attracted to him. She'd known that for awhile. But were the new tender feelings that blossomed in her chest every time their eyes met or his hand touched her, because she liked being the object of his affection or because she liked him? It was undeniably flattering to have won his attention and affection, more so because she'd never sought out his good opinion.

She needed to figure that out, and quickly. She didn't want to do anything that could hurt him more than she'd likely already hurt him.

Another important factor was if he liked her or if he was in love with her. If he liked her, she could explore her feelings while they got to know each other better. They could date, and see where that took them. If he loved her, Chloe felt a little chocked up at the thought, then she really needed to know where she stood before she let anything start between them. She didn't want to hurt him, and the weight of that possibility weighed on her mind.

AN- more Hal in the next chapter (I think) also some direct communication is coming up soon.