Chapter 4: Familiar Faces
I honestly had no idea where to go, but I figured the Kent farm would be a good place to start. I had gotten one awkward reunion out of the way, but I hoped Clark could help me with the rest. I knocked on the door and waited a few moments before Clark, who was clearly surprised to see me, opened it.
"Oliver? I can't believe it; you came."
Next thing I knew, he put his arms around me to hug me…and potentially bruise a couple of my ribs. "Whoa big guy. Can't… breathe."
He backed off. "Sorry."
I rolled my shoulders and stretched out my arms. "Don't worry about it; it's just that my work-out routine doesn't protect me from superhuman strength."
"Come in. I wasn't expecting you."
"Didn't Lois tell you I was coming?"
"Thinking about it is not the same as coming. It means a lot."
I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You didn't know?"
Initially he looked confused, but eventually he smiled. "You ran into Chloe already didn't you?"
I figured she would have called Lois regarding our encounter, but I guess that didn't mean that Clark knew anything. "Yeah, she was at my penthouse when I got there. Any ideas why?"
He shook his head. "Chloe's ...been distant lately." Nice Clark. I guess I should learn to expect subtle jabs at our failed relationship.
Before I had a chance to respond I heard a familiar voice.
"It's you."
This was the reunion I was dreading almost as much as Chloe's. "Mia."
She walked up to me, punched me in my stomach, and then walked out the door. "See you Clark."
Slightly wincing from the combination of the Clark's and Mia's damage to my body, I turned to Clark. "Well... at least her training has been kept up. I guess I have you to thank for that."
"Yeah, but Dinah stepped up too. Though you may want to keep an eye on Bart; I think he's moved on from Chloe."
I chuckled. "He never learns, does he? I think she's a tougher challenge than Chloe. Speaking of Bart and Dinah, I also hear you're leading the League now. You could have told me."
"I didn't want you think you were being replaced."
"Replace me? I'm just a guy in green leather with decent archery skills. I highly doubt that I'm needed anymore."
"Come on, Oliver. Everyone misses you."
I rolled my eyes. "What is that, my catchphrase? Sorry if I'm a little skeptical."
Clark shrugged. "Regardless of what you believe, there's been a void since you left."
I clapped my hands in an attempt to change the conversation. "So, I've been told that your wedding's in three months. I'm here to help, and not just with my bank account."
Fortunately for me, Clark took the hint. "Most of it has been taken care of due to the small guest list."
"How small?"
"Mom and Perry are flying in from Washington tomorrow. Other than that, it's just the League and hopefully John."
"That is small, but what about the General?"
Clark gritted his teeth before responding, "Yeah, don't mention him around Lois if you don't want her to turn into Bridezilla. She's pretty pissed at him right now."
I laughed at the prospect of Bridezilla-Lois. "Can't really blame her though."
"Yeah, well, it doesn't matter to me. This way, everyone can be themselves because there's no secrets."
"Wait, how did Perry find out?"
"He found Watchtower by accident right before a League meeting."
"He always seems to stumble into these things, doesn't he? Did he ever find out about your mom?"
"No, so don't mention anything. He still thinks that the Red Queen is out there, but mom retired a long time ago."
"Hey, just out of curiosity, I've always been meaning to ask if you get the tights comment as much as I did with your new costume."
He shook his head and laughed. "Sorry Arrow, that's your thing."
"I figured."
"Regarding the wedding though, I assume you already have a tux all picked out."
"Yeah."
"I expect a speech from you at the reception."
"I figured, so I started it on the plane."
"Finally, I am going to need your assistance in putting together our registry. Lois thinks it's the only thing I can't screw up, but she doesn't fully trust me."
I said while raising an eyebrow, "Let me get this straight; she wants two guys shopping for your wedding registry?"
He shrugged. "That's what I said, but it's not shopping per say. She gave me a list of certain things; she just left a few things out for me to decide.
"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting, but sure."
"Oh, I almost forgot. We're starting dance lessons tomorrow. I know you don't need them, but you know me and my two left feet."
I chuckled in remembering Clark's attempt at dancing, but then I sighed. "Probably not the best idea, don't you think?"
"You two have to face it eventually, and besides, it would be an opportunity to see everyone again."
I sighed again because he was right. "What time?"
"Maybe he's not coming." I told Lois. Honestly, I hoped that he wouldn't show up, things had been awkward enough already. Since when did he need help in the dancing department anyway?
Clark looked at Lois reassuringly. "He'll be here. He promised."
Bart walked up to me and said, "Can I dance with you in the meantime?"
Then the door opened. "Sorry, the meeting ran late."
Is it wrong that I would rather dance with Bart than Oliver? It didn't matter though, it wasn't about me. I grinned and tried to maintain a poker face. "Well, better late than never right?" I followed that statement with raising both of my eyebrows.
Bart looked down, but I patted him on the back as I walked over to Oliver.
He placed his hand carefully on my back. "Very subtle."
I placed my hand on his shoulder, refusing to look up at him. "If the shoe fits."
We started following the instructor, who was completely oblivious to our bickering.
As he twirled me, clearly showing off, he asked, "So this is how it's going to be, huh?"
"You tell me, you're the one who ..."
Lois pulled out of her formation and grabbed me from Oliver and out of the rehearsal space.
"Chloe, you promised."
"Two years of frustration doesn't disappear suddenly when he decides to show up, Lois. Do you even know why he bothered coming after barely speaking to any of us in two years?"
Lois looked away from me, which made me realize that she tricked him.
"What did you tell him? Wait, I know. You told him I was okay with it, didn't you?" Lois continued her silence, so I continued, "Then you should have expected this. We're not getting back together."
"Fine, but could you at least tolerate each other's company for three months?"
I sighed. "I'll try."
We walked back into the ballroom and I tried to smile at Oliver as we lined up again.
"Quite the one-eighty from the penthouse."
Be nice Chloe; it's for Lois. "Well, you surprised me. With the wedding, I've been stressed and..."
"Save it Chloe... I probably deserved it. For what it's worth, I'm sorry." Seeing my reaction, he continued. "Yeah, I know, two years too late, but I want to clear the air."
I laughed. "You mean that you don't want Clark to pummel you for screwing up his wedding."
He brought me in closer and whispered in my ear, "That too."
Clark probably gave you the same talk Lois gave me, didn't he? Well, if he was willing to hold a poker face for three months, so could I.
After a while, things settled between me and Chloe and we survived the dance lessons. We parted and it didn't take long for the League to welcome me back.
"Hey Boss, what's up?"
I turned around and smiled at Bart. "I'm not the boss anymore, Bart."
"You'll always be the boss to me. No offence Clark."
Clark waved his hand in the air. "None taken."
AC smiled at me. "How have you been Arrow?"
It was the first time I had seen AC since I left. I found out later what happened and I felt really guilty. What do you say to someone after you abandoned them? "I'm… I'm so sorry."
"Water under the bridge Oliver, you couldn't have prevented what happened." He paused and then smiled. "It's just good to see you back in Metropolis." He held out his hand, which I proudly shook.
"I'm glad you're okay."
"You're not the only one." Dinah said, while elbowing AC in the arm.
"You've grown your hair out again."
She fiddled with her long blonde hair and grinned. "Like it?"
"Yeah, it looks good."
Vic looked around, not really sure what to say. "Well… we'll see you around, right Oliver?"
"Right." I shook my head. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but it hurt seeing their reaction to my return to Metropolis.
However, the reunions didn't stop after the League walked away. "Would it kill you to smile Oliver? These are happy times."
"Perry, it's nice to see you." I sighed. "I'm just get acclimatized again."
"I know, weddings can get awkward, then again, getting married isn't for everyone. I doubt I'll ever get Martha to say yes."
"How can you stand it?"
"It hurts, but she's worth it." He patted my shoulder and said, "If she's worth that much to you, losing her isn't worth having it your way." He hit my shoulder again and then walked away. I wondered if that last remark was some sort of hint. It was then that I noticed Chloe heading for the door. Even behind her tired eyes, she was as beautiful as the day I left. Stop it, Oliver. She clearly wants nothing to do with you, and you can't blame her.
Unfortunately Lois saw me looking at her and walked over. "Real subtle Oliver."
"You're a smooth operator Legs, I'll give you that."
"Hey I just the put the pieces on the board. I stand back once the game starts. With you two, strategy's everything, and one wrong move could change everything."
Really Lois, another chess metaphor? "Just don't get your hopes up, okay?"
"Does that mean you're trying?"
"It took this much to be polite to each other. I'm not trying anything yet."
"Well, I need your fine eyes for picking out wedding gifts in the registry. You're joining Clark tomorrow right?"
"I'm more than willing to help, but I'm surprised that you don't want more of a say in something like this."
"It's the easiest job on the list, but you need to keep an eye on him. Smallville will just pick up anything and say that it looks nice."
Clark walked up and hugged Lois from behind. "It's under control Lois. Right Oliver?"
I grinned and began walking to the door. "It will probably be the easiest thing that I do while I'm here."
A/N: This was initially two chapters, but they aggravated me so much that I decided to shorten it and combine them into one chapter. It's not my best, but hopefully you enjoyed it.
Oh, and as a side note, I missed Hostage, so I don't know much about Perry's character. So he might be a little off-character, but hopefully for the little dialogue he has, it worked.
